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A History of the Life and 

Death, Virtues and Exploits of 
General George Washington 



6"^ 



THE ''TRUE" BIOGRAPHIES 
AND HISTORIES 

Each Fully Illustrated 

Bound in Decorated Cloth, Gilt Top, $2.00 Net, or 

Half Levant, Gilt Top, I5.00 Net 



THE TRUE ULYSSES S. GRANT 

BY general CHARLES KING 

With 28 illustrations 
THE TRUE WILLIAM PENN 

BY SYDNEY GEORGE FISHER 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE GEORGE WASHINGTON 

BY PAUL LEICESTER FORD 

24 full-page illustrations 
THE TRUE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 

BY SYDNEY GEORGE FISHER 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE THOMAS JEFFERSON 

BY WILLIAM ELEROY CURTIS 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

BY WILLIAM ELEROY CURTIS 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE HENRY CLAY 

BY JOSEPH M. ROGERS 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE ANDREW JACKSON 

BY CYRUS T. BRADY 

23 illustrations 

THE TRUE PATRICK HENRY 

BY GEORGE MORGAN 

24 illustrations 

THE TRUE DANIEL WEBSTER 

BY SYDNEY GEORGE FISHER 

25 illustrations 

THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

BY SYDNEY GEORGE FISHER 

24 illustrations 
THE TRUE HISTORYSOFfTHE CIVIL WAR 

BY GUY CARLETON LEE, PH.D. 

24 illustrations and maps 




^ 



A History of the Life and 
Death, Virtues and Exploits of 
General George Washington 

WITH CURIOUS ANECDOTES 
EQUALLY HONOURABLE TO HIMSELF AND 
EXEMPLARY TO HIS YOUNG COUNTRYMEN 



BY 

MASON L. \yEEIMS 

FORMERLY RECTOR OF MOUNT VERNON PARISH 



MOUNT VERNON EDITION 

WITH 8 ILLUSTR.\TIONS AND THE OLD WOOD CUTS 

A life how useful to his country led! 
How loved while living! how revered now dead! 
Lisp I lisp his name, ye children yet unborni 
And with like deeds your own great names adorn . 




PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

191S 



.1/ 



INTHOUUU'flON fOPVlHUHl', Jyl8, BY J, U. MPPINrOTT COMPANY 



PCBI.IHllKn FKllRnARY, IQ'S 



PKINTED UT I. B. UPPINCOTT C'OMPANV 

hi' THK WASHINOTON SgU.VRK PHKSa 

PHILAUKLPHIA, U. H. A. 



MAR 14 I3i8 



INTRODUCTION 

TO THE MOUNT VI'IRNON EDITION 

When we realize that the famous anecdote of 
George Washington and the cherry tree and accounts 
of certain exploits equally inspiring were first given 
to the world by Washington's biographer, Mason 
Locke W'eenis, it becomes interesting to trace the 
events which led to the writing of a book that above 
any other has contributed to the veneration accorded 
our greatest national hero. 

Weems was one of a family of nineteen. He was 
born in Maryland in the year 1759 and at an early 
age journeyed to England to learn medicine. Later 
he dropped medicine and made a second trip abroad 
to secure ordination under the strict regulations of the 
English Episcopal Church. 

Returning to Maryland he became rector of West- 
minster Parish and the conductor of a school for girls.* 
Before long he made another change and took up book 
selling in the peddler fashion. It is as writer and book 
salesman that he is most conspicuous, for his journeys 
were many and the books he wrote widely distributed. 

His popular " Life of Washington " was issued in 
the year 1800, sometime after he had served as rector 
of Mt. Vernon Parish, in Virginia. Edition after edi- 
tion was brought out, nearly every one containing some 



* Parson Weems, by L. C. Wroth. 



6 INTRODUCTION 

new anecdote or other fresh material drawn from his 
personal recollections of Washington and from other 
sources. His sprightly style delighted both young and 
old, but for the boys and girls of that as well as present 
generations the pages held especial appeal. 

No celebration of Washington's Birthday is con- 
ducted to-day without countless references to some of 
those anecdotes of virtue in the character of young 
George made famous by this doctor, parson, salesman 
and author who understood human nature and rever- 
enced the greatest man of his time. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Washington Crossing the Delaware Frontispiece 

Washington Presenting Governor Dinwiddie's Letter 
TO the French Commandant 43 

Washington Rafting Across the Alleghany River ... 44 

General Braddock's Army 54 

Defeat of General Braddock 58 

Battle of Lexington 92 

How They Fought at Lexington 95 

Battle of Bunker's Hill 98 

In the Midst of the Charge on Bunker Hill 100 

The Army's Winter Headquarters at Valley Forge. . 122 

Capture of Major Andre 136 

Presenting the Sword of Lord Cornwallis 147 

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis 149 



"The author has treated this great subject with admirable 
success in a new way. He turns all the actions of 
Washington to the encouragement of virtue by a careful 
application of numerous exemplifications drawn from the 
conduct of the founder of our Republic from his earliest 
life." — ^H. Lee, Major General, U. S. Armt. 



A History of the Life and 
Death, Virtues and Exploits of 
General George Washington 

CHAPTER I 

Oh ! as along the stream of time thy name 
Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame; 
May then these lines to future days descend, 
And prove thy country's good thine only end ! 

"Ah, gentlemen!" — exclaimed Bonaparte — 'twas 
just as he was about to embark for Egypt — some 
young Americans happening at Toulon, and anxious 
to see the mighty Corsican, had obtained the honour 
of an introduction to him. Scarcely were past the 
customary salutations, when he eagerly asked, " how 
fares your countryman, the great Washington?" 
" He was very well," replied the youths, brightening at 
the thought, that they were the countrymen of Wash- 
ington ; " he was very well, general, when we left 
America." — "Ah, gentlemen!" rejoined he, "Wash- 
ington can never be otherwise than well. — The measure 
of his fame is full. — Posterity will talk of him with 
reverence as the founder of a great empire, when my 
name shall be lost in the vortex of Revolutions! " 

Who, then, that has a spark of virtuous curiosity, 
but must wish to know the history of him whose name 
could thus awaken the sigh even of Bonaparte? But 

9 



10 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

is not his history already known ? Have not a thousand 
orators spread his fame abroad, bright as his own 
Potomac, when he reflects the morning sun, and flames 
like a sea of liquid gold, the wonder and delight of all 
the neighboring shores ? Yes, they have indeed spread 
his fame abroad. ... his fame as Generalissimo of the 
armies, and first President of the councils of his nation. 

But this is not half his fame True, he has been seen 

in greatness : but it is only the greatness of public char- 
acter, which is no evidence of true greatness; for a 
public character is often an artificial one. At the head 
of an army or nation, where gold and glory are at 
stake, and where a man feels himself the burning focus 
of unnumbered eyes; he must be a paltry fellow, in- 
deed, who does not play his part pretty handsomely 
.... even the common passions of pride, avarice, or 
ambition, will put him up to his mettle, and call forth 
his best and bravest doings. But let this heat and blaze 
of public situation and incitement be withdrawn; let 
him be thrust back into the shade of private life ; and 
you shall see how soon, like a forced plant robbed of its 
hot-bed, he will drop his false foliage and fruit, and 
stand forth confessed in native stick weed sterility and 
worthlessness. — There was Benedict Arnold — while 
strutting a brigadier general on the public stage, he 
could play you the great man, on a handsome scale — ■ 
he out-marched Hannibal, and out-fought Burgoyne — 
he chased the British like curlews, or cooped them up 
like chickens! and yet in the private walks of life, in 
Philadelphia, he could swindle rum from the commis- 
sary's stores, and, with the aid of loose women, retail 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 11 

it by the gill ! ! — And there was the great duke of 
Marlborough too — his public character, a thunderbolt 
in war ! Britain's boast, and the terror of the French ! 
But his private character, what? Why a swindler to 
whom Arnold's self could hold a candle ; a perfect non- 
descript of baseness; a shaver of farthings from the 
poor sixpenny pay of his own brave soldiers ! ! 

It is not, then, in the glare of public, but in the 
shade of private life, that we are to look for the man. 
Private life, is always real life. Behind the curtain, 
where the eyes of the million are not upon him, and 
where a man can have no motive but inclination, no 
incitement but honest nature, there he will always be 
sure to act himself : consequently, if he act greatly, 
he must be great indeed. Hence it has been justly 
said, that, " our private deeds, if noble, are noblest of 
our lives." 

Of these private deeds of Washington very little 
has been said. In most of the elegant orations pro- 
nounced to his praise, you see nothing of Washington 
below the clouds — nothing of Washington the dutiful 
son — the affectionate brother — the cheerful school-boy 
— the diligent surveyor — the neat draftsman — the 
laborious farmer — the widow's husband — the orphan's 
father — the poor man's friend. No! this is not the 
Washington you see ; 'tis only Washington, the hero, 
and the Demigod — Washington the sun-beam in coun- 
cil, or the storm in war. 

And in all the ensigns of character amidst which 
he is generally drawn, you see none that represent 
him what he really was, " the jupiter Conservator," 



12 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the friend and benefactor of men. Where's his bright 
ploughshare that he loved — or his wheat-crowned 
fields, waving in yellow ridges before the wanton 
breeze — or his hills whitened over with flocks — or 
his clover covered pastures spread with innumerous 
herds — or his neat-clad servants with songs rolling the 
heavy harvest before them ? Such were the scenes of 
peace, plenty, and happiness, in which Washington 
delighted. But his eulogists have denied him these, 
the only scenes which belong to man the great ; and 
have trick'd him up in the vile drapery of man the 
little. See ! there he stands ! with the port of Mars 
" the destroyer," dark frowning over the fields of war — 
the lightning of Potter's blade is by his side — the deep- 
mouthed cannon is before him, disgorging its flesh- 
mangling balls — his war-horse pants with impatience 
to bear him, a speedy thunderbolt, against the pale and 
bleeding ranks of Britain! — These are the drawings 
usually given of Washington; drawings masterly no 
doubt, and perhaps justly descriptive of him in some 
scenes of his life. But scenes they were, which I am 
sure his soul abhorred, and in which, at any rate, you 
see nothing of his private virtues. These old fashioned 
commodities are generally thrown into the back ground 
of the picture; and treated, as the grandees at the 
London and Paris routs, treat their good old aunts 
and grandmothers, huddling them together into the 
back rooms, there to wheeze and cough by themselves, 
and not depress the fine laudanum-raised spirits of the 
young sparklers. And yet it was to those old fashioned 
virtues that our hero owed every thing. For they in 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 13 

fact were the food of the great actions of him, whom 
men call Washington, It was they that enabled him, 
first to triumph over himself ; then over the British ; 
and uniformly to set such bright examples of human 
perfectibility and true greatness, that, compared there- 
with, the history of his capturing Cornwallis and 
Tarleton, with their buccaneering legions, sounds 
almost as small as the story of General Putnam's 
catching his wolf and her lamb-killing whelps. 

Since then it is the private virtues that lay the 
foundation of all human excellence — since it was these 
that exalted Washington to be "Columbia's first and 
greatest Son," be it our first care to present these, in 
all their lustre, before the admiring eyes of our chil- 
dren. To them his private character is every thing; 
his public, hardly any thing. For how glorious soever 
it may have been in Washington to have undertaken 
the emancipation of his country ; to have stemmed the 
long tide of adversity ; to have baffled every effort of 
a wealthy and warlike nation ; to have obtained for his 
countrymen the completest victory, and for himself the 
most unbounded power, and then to have returned that 
power, accompanied with all the weight of his own 
great character and advice to establish a government 
that should immortalize the blessings of liberty — how- 
ever glorious, I say, all this may have been to himself, 
or instructive to future generals and presidents, yet 
does it but little concern our children. For who among 
us can hope that his son shall ever be called, like 
Washington, to direct the storm of war, or to ravish 
the ears of deeply listening Senates? To be con- 



14 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

stantly placing him then, before our children, in this 
high character, what is it but like springing in the 
clouds a golden Phoenix, which no mortal calibre can 
ever hope to reach? Or like setting pictures of the 
Mammoth before the mice, whom " not all the manna 
of Heaven " can ever raise to equality? Oh no! give 
us his private virtues! In these, every youth is in- 
terested, because in these every youth may become a 
Washington — a Washington in piety and patriotism, — 
in industry and honour — and consequently a Washing- 
ton, in what alone deserves the name, self esteem and 

UNIVERSAL RESPECT. 



CHAPTER II ' 

BIRTH AND EDUCATION 

" Children like tender osiers take the bow ; 

" And as they first are form'd, forever grow." 

To this day numbers of good Christians can hardly 
find faith to beheve that Washington was, bona fide, 
a Virginian ! " What ! a buckskin ! " say they with a 
smile. " George Washington a buckskin ! pshaw ! im- 
possible! he was certainly an European: So great a 
man could never have been born in America." 

So great a man could never have been born in 
America! — why that's the very prince of reasons why 
he should have been born here ! Nature, we know, 
is fond of harmonies ; and paria paribus, that is, great 
things to great, is the rule she delights to work by. 
Where, for example, do we look for the whale, " the 
biggest born of nature?" not, I trow, in a mill-pond, 
but in the main ocean. " There go the great ships : " 
and there are the spoutings of whales amidst their 
boiling foam. 

By the same rule, where shall we look for Wash- 
ington, the greatest among men, but in America — 
that greatest Continent, which, rising from beneath 
the frozen pole, stretches far and wide to the south, 
running almost " the whole length of this vast ter- 
rene," and sustaining on her ample sides the roaring 
shock of half the watery globe? And equal to its size 
is the furniture of this vast continent, where the 
Almighty has reared his cloud-capt mountains, and 

IS 



16 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

spread his sea-like lakes, and poured his mighty rivers, 
and hurled down his thundering cataracts in a style 
of the sublime, so far superior to any thing of the 
kind in the other continents, that we may fairly con- 
clude that great men and great deeds are designed 
for America. 

This seems to be the verdict of honest analogy, 
and accordingly we find America the honoured cradle 
of Washington, who was bom on Pope's creek, in 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, the 22nd of Febru- 
ary, 1732. His father, whose name was Augustin 
Washington, was also a Virginian: but his grand- 
father (John) was an Englishman, who came over 
and settled in Virginia in 1657. 

His father, fully persuaded that a marriage of vir- 
tuous love comes nearest to angelic life, early stepped 
up to the altar with glowing cheeks and joy sparkling 
eyes, while by his side with soft warm hand, sweetly 
trembling in his, stood the angel-form of the lovely 
Miss Dandridge. 

After several years of great domestic happiness 
Mr. Washington was separated by death from this 
excellent woman, who left him and two children to 
lament her early fate. 

Fully persuaded still, that " it is not good for man 
to be alone," he renewed, for the second time, the 
chaste delights of matrimonial love. His consort was 
Miss Mary Ball, a young lady of fortune, and de- 
scended from one of the best families in Virginia. 

From his intermarriage with this charming girl, it 
would appear that our hero's father must have pes- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 17 

sessed either a very pleasing person, or highly polished 
manners, or perhaps both ; for, from what I can learn, 
he was at that time at least forty years old ! while she, 
on the other hand, was miiversally toasted as the belle 
of the Northern Neck, and in the full bloom and fresh- 
ness of love-inspiring sixteen. This I have from one 
who tells me that he has carried down many a sett 
dance with her; I mean that amiable and pleasant old 
gentleman, John Fitzhugh, Esq., of Stafford, who was, 
all his life, a neighbour and intimate of the Washington 
family. By his first wife, Mr. Washington had two 
children, both sons — Lawrence and Augustin. By his 
second wife, he had five children, four sons and a 
daughter — George, Samuel, John, Charles, and Eliza- 
beth. Those over delicate folk, who are ready to 
faint at thought of a second marriage, might do well 
to remember, that the greatest man that ever lived was 
the son of this second marriage. 

Little George had scarcely attained his fifth year, 
when his father left Pope's creek, and came up to a 
plantation which he had in Stafford, opposite to 
Fredericksburg. The house in which he lived is still 
to be seen. It lifts its low and modest front of faded 
red, over the turbid waters of Rappahannock ; whither, 
to this day, numbers of people repair, and, with emo- 
tions unutterable, looking at the weather beaten 
mansion, exclaim, " Here's the house where the great 
Washington was born ! " 

But it is all a mistake ; for he was born, as I said, 
at Pope's creek, in Westmoreland county, near the 
margin of his own roaring Potomac. 
2 



18 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

The first place of education to which George was 
ever sent, was a little " old field school," kept by one 
of his father's tenants, named Hobby; an honest, poor 
old man, who acted in the double character of sexton 
and schoolmaster. On his skill as a grave-digger, 
tradition is silent ; but for a teacher of youth, his 
qualifications were certainly of the humbler sort; mak- 
ing what is generally called an A. B. C. schoolmaster. 
Such was the preceptor who first taught Washington 
the knowledge of letters ! Hobby lived to see his 
young pupil in all his glory, and rejoiced exceedingly. 
In his cups — for though a sexton, he would sometimes 
drink, particularly on the General's birthdays — he used 
to boast that " 'twas he, who, between his knees, had 
laid the foundation of George Washington's greatness." 

But though George was early sent to a school- 
master, yet he was not on that account neglected by 
his father. Deeply sensible of the loveliness and 
worth of which human nature is capable, through 
the virtues and graces early implanted in the heart, 
he never for a moment, lost sight of George in those 
all-important respects. 

To assist his son to overcome that selfish spirit, 
which too often leads children to fret and fight about 
trifles, was a notable care of Mr. Washington. For 
this purpose, of all the presents, such as cakes, fruit, 
&c. he received, he was always desired to give a liberal 
part to his play-mates. To enable him to do this with 
more alacrity, his father would remind him of the 
love which he would thereby gain, and the frequent 
presents which would in return be made to him ; and 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 19 

also would tell of that great and good God, who de- 
lights above all things to see children love one another, 
and will assuredly reward them for acting so amiable 
a part. 

Some idea of Mr. Washington's plan of education 
in this respect, may be collected from the following 
anecdote, related to me twenty years ago by an aged 
lady, who was a distant relative, and, when a girl, 
spent much of her time in the family : 

" On a fine morning," said she, " in the fall of 1737, 
Mr. Washington having little George by the hand, 
came to the door and asked my cousin Washington 
and myself to walk with him to the orchard, promising 
he would show us a fine sight. On arriving at the 
orchard, we were presented with a fine sight indeed. 
The whole earth, as far as we could see, was strewed 
with fruit: and yet the trees were bending under the 
weight of apples, which hung in clusters like grapes, 
and vainly strove to hide their blushing cheeks behind 
the green leaves. Now, George, said his father, look 
here, my son! don't you remember when this good 
cousin of yours brought you that fine large apple last 
spring, how hardly I could prevail on you to divide 
with your brothers and sisters ; though I promised 
you that if you would but do it, God Almighty would 
give you plenty of apples this fall. Poor George could 
not say a word ; but hanging down his head, looked 
quite confused, while with his little naked toes he 
scratched in the soft ground. Now look up, my son, 
continued his father, look up, George ! and see there 
how richly the blessed God has made good my promise 



20 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

to you. Wherever you turn your eyes, you see the trees 
loaded with fine fruit ; many of them indeed breaking 
down ; while the ground is covered with mellow apples, 
more than you could eat, my son, in all your life time." 

George looked in silence on the wide wilderness of 
fruit. He marked the busy humming bees, and heard 
the gay notes of birds ; then lifting his eyes, filled with 
shming moisture, to his father, he softly said, " Well, 
Pa, only forgive me this time ; and see if I ever be so 
stingy any more." 

Some, when they look up to the oak, whose giant 
arms throw a darkening shade over distant acres, or 
whose single trunk lays the keel of a man of war, 
cannot bear to hear of the time when this mighty plant 
was but an acorn, which a pig could have demolished. 
But others, who know their value, like to learn the 
soil and situation which best produces such noble trees. 
Thus, parents that are wise, will listen, well pleased, 
while I relate how moved the steps of the youthful 
Washington, whose single worth far outweighs all the 
oaks of Bashan and the red spicy cedars of Lebanon. 
Yes, they will listen delighted while I tell of their 
Washington in the days of his youth, when his little 
feet were swift towards the nests of birds ; or when, 
wearied in the chase of the butterfly, he laid him down 
on his grassy couch and slept, while ministering spirits, 
with their roseate wings, fanned his glowing cheeks, 
and kissed his lips of innocence with that fervent love 
which makes the Heaven ! 

Never did the wise Ulysses take more pains with 
his beloved Telemachus, than did Mr. Washington 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 21 

with George, to inspire him with an early love of 
truth. " Truth, George," said he, " is the loveliest 
quality of youth. I would ride fifty miles, my son, 
to see the little boy whose heart is so honest, and his 
lips so pure, that we may depend on every word he 
says. O how lovely does such a child appear in the 
eyes of every body ! his parents doat on him. His 
relations glory in him. They are constantly praising 
him to their children, whom they beg to imitate him. 
They are often sending for him to visit them; and 
receive him, when he comes, with as much joy as if 
he were a little angel, come to set pretty examples to 
their children. 

" But, Oh ! how different, George, is the case with 
the boy who is so given to lying, that nobody can 
believe a word he says ! He is looked at v/ith aversion 
wherever he goes, and parents dread to see him come 
among their children. Oh, George ! my son ! rather 
than see you come to this pass, dear as you are to my 
heart, gladly would I assist to nail you* up in your little 
coffin, and follow you to your grave. Hard, indeed, 
would it be to me to give up my son, whose little feet 
are always so ready to run about with me, and whose 
fondly looking eyes and sweet prattle makes so large a 
part of my happiness. But still I would give him up, 
rather than see him a common liar." 

" Pa," said George very seriously, " do I ever tell 
lies?" 

" No, George, I thank God you do not, my son ; 
and I rejoice in the hope you never will. At least, 
you shall never, from me, have cause to be guilty of 
so shameful a thing. Many parents, indeed, even com- 



22 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

pel their children to this vile practice, by barbarously 
beating them for every little fault : hence, on the next 
offence, the little terrified creature slips out a lie ! just 
to escape the rod. But as to yourself, George, you 
know I have always told you, and now tell you again, 
that, whenever by accident, you do anything wrong, 
which must often be the case, as you are but a poor 
little boy yet, without experience or knowledge, you 
must never tell a falsehood to conceal it; but come 
bravely up, my son, like a little man, and tell me of it : 
and, instead of beating you, George, I will but the 
more honour and love you for it, my dear." 

This, you'll say, was sowing good seed! — Yes, it 
was: and the crop, thank God, was, as I believe it 
ever will be, where a man acts the true parent, that 
is, the Guardian Angel, by his child. 

The following anecdote is a case in point. It is 
too valuable to be lost, and too true to be doubted ; for 
it was communicated to me by the same excellent lady 
to whom I am indebted for the last. 
y " When George," said she, " was about six years 
/ old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet! 
of which, like most little boys, he was immoderately 
fond, and was constantly going about chopping every- 
thing that came in his way. One day, in the garden, 
where he often amused himself hacking his mother's 
pea-sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet 
on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, 
which he barked so terribly, that I don't believe the 
tree ever got the better of it. The next morning the 
old gentleman, finding out what had befallen his tree, 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 23 

which, by the by, was a great favourite, came into 
the house ; and with much warmth asked for the mis- 
chievous author, declaring at the same time, that he 
would not have taken five guineas for his tree. No- 
body could tell him anything about it. Presently 
George and his hatchet made their appearance. 
" George," said his father, " do you know who killed 
that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? " 
This was a tough question ; and George staggered 
under it for a moment ; but quickly recovered him- 
self : and looking at his father, with the sweet face of 
youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all- 
conquering truth, he bravely cried out, " I can't tell 
a lie. Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it 
with my hatchet." — "Run to my arms, you dearest boy," 
cried his father in transports, " run to my arms ; glad 
am I, George, that you killed my tree ; for you have 
paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism 
in my son is more worth than a thousand trees, though 
blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold." 
It was in this way by interesting at once both his 
heart and head, that Mr. Washington conducted George 
with great ease and pleasure along the happy paths of 
virtue. But well knowing that his beloved charge, 
soon to be a man, would be left exposed to numberless 
temptations, both from himself and from others, his 
heart throbbed with the tenderest anxiety to make him 
acquainted with that great being, whom to know and 
love, is to possess the surest defence against vice, and 
the best of all motives to virtue and happiness. To 
startle George into a lively sense of his Maker, he fell 



24 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

upon the following very curious but impressive 
expedient : 

One day he went into the garden, and prepared a 
little bed of finely pulverized earth, on which he wrote 
George's name at full, in large letters — then strewing 
in plenty of cabbage seed, he covered them up, and 
smoothed all over nicely with the roller. — This bed 
he purposely prepared close along side of a gooseberry 
walk, which happening at this time to be well hung 
with ripe fruit, he knew would be honoured with 
George's visits pretty regularly every day. Not many 
mornings had passed away 'before in came George, 
with eyes wild rolling, and his little cheeks ready to 
burst with great news. 

" O Pa ! come here ! come here ! " 

" What's the matter, my son ? what's the matter ? " 

" O come here, I tell you. Pa: come here! and I'll 
shew you such a sight as you never saw in all your 
life time." 

The old gentleman suspecting what George would 
be at, gave him his hand, which he seized with great 
eagerness, and tugging him along through the garden, 
led him point blank to the bed whereon was inscribed, 
in large letters, and in all the freshness of newly sprung 
plants, the full name of 

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

"There Pa?" said George, quite in an ecstacy of 
astonishment, " did you ever see such a sight in all 
your life time? " 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 25 

" Why it seems like a curious affair, sure enough, 
George ! " 

" But, Pa, who did make it there ? who did make it 
there?" 

" It grew there by chance, I suppose, my son." 

" By chance. Pa ! O no ! no ! it never did grow 
there by chance, Pa. Indeed that it never did ! " 

" High ! why not, my son ? " 

" Why, Pa, did you ever see anybody's name in a 
plant bed before? " 

'* Well, but George, such a thing might happen, 
though you never sav^^ it before." 

" Yes, Pa ; but I did never see the little plants grow 
up so as to make one single letter of my name before. 
Now, how could they grow up so as to make all the 
letters of my name ! and then standing* one after 
another, to spell my name so exactly ! — and all so neat 
and even too, at top and bottom ! ! O Pa, you must 
not say chance did all this. Indeed somebody did it ; 
and I dare say now, Pa, you did it just to scare me, 
because I am your little boy." 

His father smiled ; and said, " Well George, you 
have guessed right. I indeed did it; but not to scare 
you, my son ; but to learn you a great thing which I 
wish you to understand. I want, my son, to intro- 
duce you to your true Father." 

" High, Pa, an't you my true father, that has loved 
me, and been so good to me always ? " 

" Yes George, I am your father, as the world calls 
it: and I love you very dearly too. But yet with all 
my love for you, George, I am but a poor good-for- 



26 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

nothing sort of a father in comparison of one you 
have." 

"Aye! I know, well enough whom you mean, Pa. 
You mean God Almighty ; don't you ? " 

" Yes, my son, I mean him indeed. He is your 
true Father, George." 

" But, Pa, where is God Almighty ! I did never 
see him yet." 

" True my son ; but though you never saw him, 
yet he is always with you. You did not see me when 
ten days ago I made this little plant bed, where you see 
your name in such beautiful green letters : but though 
you did not see me here, yet you know I was here ! " 

" Yes, Pa, that I do. I know you was here." 

" Well then, and as my son could not believe that 
chance had made and put together so exactly the letters 
of his name (though only sixteen) then how can he 
believe, that chance could have made and put together 
all those millions and millions of things that are now 
so exactly fitted to his good ! That my son may look at 
everything around him, see ! what fine eyes he has got ! 
and a little pug nose to smell the sweet flowers ! and 
pretty ears to hear sweet sounds ! and a lovely mouth 
for his bread and butter ! and O, the little ivory teeth 
to cut it for him ! and the dear little tongue to prattle 
with his father! and precious little hands and fingers 
to hold his play-things ! and beautiful little feet for him 
to run about upon ! and when my little rogue of a son 
is tired with running about, then the still night comes 
for him to lie down : and his mother sings, and the 
little crickets chirp him to sleep ! and as soon as he has 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 27 

slept enough, and jumps up fresh and strong as a Httle 
buck, there the sweet golden light is ready for him! 
When he looks down into the water, there he sees the 
beautiful silver fishes for him ! and up in the trees there 
are the apples, and peaches, and thousands of sweet 
fruits for him! and all, all around him, wherever my 
dear boy looks, he sees everything just to his wants and 
wishes ; — the bubbling springs with cool sweet water 
for him to drink ! and the wood to make him sparkling 
fires when he is cold ! and beautiful horses for him to 
ride ! and strong oxen to work for him ! and the good 
cow to give him milk ! and bees to make sweet honey 
for his sweeter mouth ! and the little lambs, with snowy 
wool, for beavitiful clothes for him ! Now, these and 
all the ten thousand thousand other good things more 
than my son can ever think of, and all so exactly fitted 
to his use and delight — Now how could chance ever 
have done all this for my little son ? Oh George ! — 

He would have gone on : but George, who had hung 
upon his father's words with looks and eyes of all- 
devouring attention, here broke out — 

" Oh, Pa, that's enough ! that's enough ! It can't 
be chance, indeed — it can't be chance, that made and 
gave me all these things." 

" What was it then, do you think, my son ? " 
" Indeed, Pa, I don't know unless it was God 
Almighty ! " 

" Yes, George, he it was, my son, and nobody else." 
"Well, but Pa (continued George), does God 
Almighty give me everything ? Don't you give me somq 
things, Pa ? " 



28 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

" I give you something indeed ! Oh how can I 
give you any thing, George! I who have nothing on 
earth that I can call my own, no, not even the breath 
I draw ! " 

" High, Pa ! isn't that great big house your house, 
and this garden, and the horses yonder, and oxen, 
and sheep, and trees, and every thing, isn't all yours. 
Pa?" 

"Oh no! my son! no! why you make me shrink 
into nothing, George, when you talk of all these be- 
longing to me, who can't even make a grain of sand ! 
Oh, how could I, my son, have given life to those 
great oxen and horses, when I can't give life even to 
a fly? — no! for if the poorest fly were killed, it is not 
your father, George, nor all the men in the world, 
that could ever make him live again ! " 

At this, George fell into a profound silence, while 
his pensive looks showed that his youthful soul was 
labouring w'ith some idea never felt before. Perhaps 
it was at that moment, that the good Spirit of God 
ingrafted on his heart that germ of piety, which filled 
his after life with so many of the precious fruits of 
morality. 



CHAPTER Til 

George's father dies — his education continued by his mother — 
his behaviour under school-master WilHams. 

Thus pleasantly, on wings of down, passed away 
the few short years of little George's and his father's 
earthly acquaintance. Sweetly ruled by the sceptre of 
reason, George almost adored his father ; and thus 
sweetly obeyed with all the cheerfulness of love, his 
father doated on George. And though very different 
in their years, yet parental and filial love rendered 
them so mutually dear, that the old gentleman was 
often heard to regret, that the school took his little 
coinpanion so much from him — while George, on the 
other hand, would often quit his playmates to run 
home and converse with his more beloved father. 

But George was not long to enjoy the pleasure or 
the profit of such a companion; for scarcely had he 
attained his tenth year, before his father was seized 
with the gout in his stomach, which carried him off 
in a few days. George was not at home when his 
father was taken ill. He was on a visit to some of his 
cousins in Chotank, about twenty miles off: and his 
father, unwilling to interrupt his pleasures (for it was 
but seldom that he visited), would not at first allow 
him to be sent for. But finding that he was going 
very fast, he begged that they would send for him in 
all haste. He often asked if he was come ; and said 
how happy he should be once more to see his little 
son, and give him his blessing before he died. But 

29 



30 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

alas! he never enjoyed that last mournful pleasure; 
for George did not reach home until a few hours 
before his father's death : and then he was speechless ! 
The moment he alighted, he ran into the chamber 
where he lay. But oh ! what were his feelings when 
he saw the sad change that had passed upon him ! when 
he beheld those eyes, late so bright and fond, now reft 
of all their lustre, faintly looking on him from their 
hollow sockets, and through swelling tears, in mute but 
melting language, bidding him a last, last farewell ! — 
Rushing with sobs and cries, he fell upon his father's 
neck — he kissed him a thousand and a thousand times, 
and bathed his clay-cold face with scalding tears. 

O happiest youth! Happiest in that love, which 
thus, to its enamoured soul strained an aged, an ex- 
piring sire. O ! worthiest to be the founder of a just 
and equal government lasting as thy own deathless 
name ! And O ! happiest old man ! thus luxuriously 
expiring in the arms of such a child ! O ! well re- 
quited for teaching him that love of his God (the only 
fountain of every virtuous love) in return for which 
he gave thee ('twas all he had) himself — his fondest 
company — his sweetest looks and prattle. He now 
gives thee his little feeble embraces. With artless 
sighs and tears, faithful to thee still, his feet will fol- 
low thee to thy grave : and when thy beloved corse is 
let down to the stones of the pit, with streaming eyes 
he will rush to the brink, to take one more look, while 
his bursting heart will give thee its last trembling cry — 
O my father! my father! 

But, though he had lost his best of friends, yet he 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 31 

never lost those divine sentiments which that friend 
had so carefully inculcated. On the contrary, inter- 
woven with the fibres of his heart, they seemed to 
" grow with his growth, and to strengthen with his 
strength." The memory of his father, often bathed 
with a tear — the memory of his father, now sleeping 
in his grave, was felt to impose a more sacred obliga- 
tion to do whatever he knew would rejoice his departed 
shade. This was very happily displayed, in every part 
of his deportment, from the moment of his earliest 
intercourse with mankind. 

Soon after the death of his father, his mother sent 
him down to Westmoreland, the place of his nativity, 
where he lived with his half-brother Augustine, and 
went to school to a Mr. Williams, an excellent teacher 
in that neighbourhood. He carried with him his vir- 
tues, his zeal for unblemished character, his love of 
truth, and detestation of whatever was false and base. 
A gilt chariot with richest robes and liveried servants, 
could not half so substantially have befriended him ; 
for in a very short time, so completely had his virtues 
secured the love and confidence of the boys, his word 
was just as current among them as a law. A very 
aged gentleman, formerly a schoolmate of his, has 
often assured me, (while pleasing recollection bright- 
ened his furrowed cheeks,) that nothing was more 
common, when the boys were in high dispute about 
a question of fact, than for some little shaver among 
the mimic heroes, to call out, " well boys ! George 
Washington was there ; George Washington was there. 
PTe knows all about it: and if he don't say it was so. 



32 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

then we will give it up." — " Done," said the adverse 
party. Then away they would trot to hunt for George. 
Soon as his verdict was heard, the party favoured 
would begin to crow, and then all hands would return 
to play again. 

About five years after the death of his father, he 
quitted school for ever, leaving the boys in tears for 
his departure : for he had ever lived among them, in 
the spirit of a brother. He was never guilty of so 
brutish a practice as that of fighting himself ; nor 
would he, when able to prevent it, allow them to fight 
one another. If he could not disarm their savage 
passions by his arguments, he would instantly go to 
the master, and inform him of their barbarous 
intentions. 

" The boys," said the same good old gentleman, 
" were often angry with George for this." — But he 
used to say, " angry or not angry, you shall never, 
boys, have my consent to a practice so shocking! 
shocking even in slaves and dogs ; then how utterly 
scandalous in little boys at school, who ought to look 
on one another as brothers. And what must be the 
feelings of our tender parents, when, instead of seeing 
us come home smiling and lovely, as the joy of their 
hearts ! they see us creeping in like young black- 
guards, with our heads bound up, black eyes, and 
bloody clothes ! And what is all this for ? Why, that 
we may get praise ! ! But the truth is, a quarrelsome 
boy was never sincerely praised ! Big boys, of the 
vulgar sort, indeed may praise him : but it is only as 
they would a silly game cock, that fights for their 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 33 

pastime : and the little boys are sure to praise him, 
but it is only as they would a bull dog — to keep him 
from tearing them ! ! " 

Some of his historians have said, and many believe, 
that Washington was a Latin scholar ! But 'tis an 
error. He never learned a syllable of Latin. His 
second and last teacher, Mr. Williams, was indeed a 
capital hand — but not at Latin; for of that he under- 
stood perhaps as little as Balaam's ass. But at read- 
ing, spelling, English grammar, arithmetic, surveying, 
bookkeeping, and geography, he was indeed famous. 
And in these useful arts, 'tis said he often boasted that 
he had made young George Washington as great a 
scholar as himself. 

Born to be a soldier, Washington early discovered 
symptoms of nature's intentions towards him. In his 
iith year, while at school under old Mr. Hobby, he 
used to divide his play-mates into two parties or armies. 
One of these, for distinction sake, was called French, 
the other American. A big boy at the school, named 
William Bustle, commanded the former ; George com- 
manded the latter. And every day, at play-time, with 
corn-stalks for muskets, and calabashes for drums, 
the two armies would turn out, and march, and 
counter-march, and file off or fight their mimic battles, 
with great fury. This was fine sport for George, 
whose passion for active exercise was so strong, that 
at play-time, no weather could keep him within doors. 
His fair cousins, who visited at his mother's, used to 
complain, that " George was not fond of their com- 
pany, like other boys ; but soon as he had got his task, 
3 



34 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

would run out to play." But such trifling play as 
marbles and tops he could never endure. They did 
not afford him exercise enough. His delight was in 
that of the manliest sort, which, by stringing the limbs 
and swelling the muscles, promotes the kindliest flow 
of blood and spirits. At jumping with a long pole, or 
heaving heavy weights, for his years he hardly had an 
equal. And as to running, the swift-footed Achilles 
could scarcely have matched his speed. 

" Egad ! he ran wonderfully," said my amiable and 
aged friend, John Fitzhugh, Esq., who knew him well. 
" We had nobody here-abouts, that could come near 
him. There was a young Langhorn Dade, of West- 
moreland, a confounded clean made, tight young fel- 
low, and a mighty swift runner too. But then he was 
no match for George. Langy, indeed, did not like to 
give it up; and would brag that he had sometimes 
brought George to a tie. But I believe he was mis- 
taken : for I have seen them run together many a 
time ; and George always beat him easy enough." 

Col. Lewis Willis, his play-mate and kinsman, has 
been heard to say, that he has often seen him throw 
a stone across Rappahannock, at the lower ferry of 
Fredericksburg. It would be no easy matter to find a 
man, now a-days, who could do it. 

Indeed his father before him was a man of extra- 
ordinary strength. His gun, which to this day is 
called Washington's fowling-piece, and is now the 
property of Mr. Harry Fitzhugh, of Chotank, is of 
such enormous weight, that not one man in fifty can 
fire it without a rest. And yet throughout that coun- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 35 

try it is said, that he made nothing of holding it off 
at arms length, and blazing away at the swans on 
Potomac ; of which he has been known to kill, rank 
and file seven or eight at a shot. 

But to return to George. It appears that from the 
start he was a boy of an uncommonly warm and noble 
heart ; insomuch that Lawrence, though but his half- 
brother, took such a liking to him, even above his 
own brother Augustine, that he would always have 
George with him when he could ; and often pressed 
him to come and live with him. But, as if led by some 
secret impulse, George declined the offer, and as we 
have seen, went to work in the back woods, as Lord 
Fairfax's surveyor! However, when Lawrence was 
taken with the consumption, and advised by his physi-' 
cians to make a trip to Bermuda, George could not 
resist any longer, but hastened down to his brother 
at Mount Vernon, and went with him to Bermuda. 
It was at Bermuda that George took the small-pox, 
which marked him rather agreeably than otherwise. 
Lawrence never recovered, but returned to Virginia, 
where he died just after his brother George had fought 
his hard battle against the French and Indians, at Fort 
Necessity, as the reader will presently learn. 

Lawrence did not live to see George after that, but 
he lived to hear of his fame; for as the French and 
Indians were at that time a great public terror, the 
people could not help being very loud in their praise of 
a youth, who, with so slender a force had dared to 
meet them in their own country, and had given them 
such a check. 



36 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

And when Lawrence heard of his favorite young 
brother, that he had fought so gallantly for his coun- 
try, and that the whole land was filled with his praise, 
he wept for joy. And such is the victory of love over 
nature, that though fast sinking under the fever and 
cough of a consumption in its extreme stage, he did not 
seem to mind it, but spent his last moments in fondly 
talking of his brother George, who, he said, " he had 
always believed, would one day or other be a great 
man ! " 

On opening his will, it was found that George had 
lost nothing by his dutiful and affectionate behaviour 
to his brother Lawrence. For having now no issue 
(his only child, a little daughter, lately dying), he left 
to George all his rich lands in Berkley, together with 
his great estate on Potomac, called Mount Vernon, 
in honour of old Admiral Vernon, by whom he had 
been treated with great politeness, while a volunteer 
with him at the unfortunate siege of Carthagena, in 
1741. 



CHAPTER IV 

George leaves school — is appointed a private surveyor to Lord 
Fairfax, of the Northern Neck — wishes to enter on 
board of a British man of war — providentially prevented 
by his mother — the first lightnings of his soul to war. 

Happily for America, George Washington was not 
born with " a silver spoon in his mouth." The Rap- 
pahannock plantation left him by his father, was only 
in reversion — and his mother was still in her prime. 
Seeing then no chance of ever rising in the world but by 
his own merit, on leaving school he went up to Fairfax 
to see his brother Lawrence, with whom he found 
Mr. William Fairfax, one of the governor's council, 
who was come up on a visit to his sister, whom Law- 
rence had married. The counsellor presently took a 
great liking to George ; and hearing him express a wish 
to get employment as a surveyor, introduced him to 
his relative, Lord Fairfax, the wealthy proprietor of 
all those lands generally called the Northern Neck, 
lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock, and 
extending from Smith's Point on the Chesapeake, to 
the foot of the Great Allegheny. At the instance of 
the counsellor, Lord Fairfax readily engaged George 
as a surveyor, and sent him up into the back-woods 
to work. He continued in his lordship's service till his 
20th year, closely pursuing the laborious life of a 
woodsman. 

From the manner in which Washington chose to 
amuse his leisure hours during this period, I am almost 

37 



38 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

inclined to think that he had a presentiment of the 
great labours that lay before him. When in Frederick, 
which at that time was very large, containing the 
counties now called Berkley, Jefferson, and Shenan- 
doah, he boarded in the house of the widow Stevenson, 
generally pronounced Stinson. This lady had seven 
sons — William and Valentine Crawford, by her first 
husband ; and John, and Hugh, and Dick, and Jim, and 
Mark Stinson, by her last husband. These seven young 
men, in Herculean size and strength, were equal, per- 
haps, to any seven sons of any one mother in Christen- 
dom. This was a family exactly to George's mind, 
because promising him an abundance of that manly 
exercise in which he delighted. In front of the house 
lay a fine extended green, with a square of several 
hundred yards. Here it was every evening, when his 
daily toils of surveying were ended, that George, like 
a young Greek training for the Olympic games, used 
to turn out with his sturdy young companions, " to 
see," as they termed it, " w'hich was the best man," at 
running, jumping, and wrestling. And so keen was 
their passion for these sports, and so great their am- 
bition to excel each other, that they would often 
persist, especially on moon-shining nights, till bed- 
time. The Crawfords and Stinsons, though not taller 
than George, were much heavier men ; so that at 
wrestling, and particularly at the close or Indian hug, 
he seldom gained much matter of triumph. But in all 
trials of agility, they stood no chance with him! 
' From these Frederick county gymnastics or exer- 
cises, there followed an effect which shews the very 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 39 

wide difference between participating in innocent and 
guilty pleasures. While companions in raking and 
gambling, heartily despise and hate one another, and 
when they meet in the streets, pass each other with 
looks as cold and shy as sheep-thieving curs — these 
virtuous young men, by spending their evenings to- 
gether, in innocent and manly exercises, contracted a 
friendship which lasted for life. When George, 
twenty-five years after this, was called to lead the 
American armies, he did not forget his old friends, 
the Stinsons and Crawfords ; but gave commissions 
to all of them who chose to join his army; which sev- 
eral of them did. William Crawford, the eldest of 
them, and as brave a man as ever shouldered a musket, 
was advanced as high as the rank of colonel, when 
he was burnt to death by the Indians at Sandusky. 
And equally cordial was the love of these young men 
towards George, of whom they always spoke as of a 
brother. Indeed, Hugh Stinson, the second brother, 
who had a way of snapping his eyes when he talked 
of any thing that greatly pleased him, used to brighten 
up at the name of Washington; and would tell his 
friends, that, " he and his brother John had often laid 
the conqueror of England on his back ; " but at the 
same time, would agree, that, " in running and jump- 
ing they were no match for him." 

Such was the way in which George spent his leisure 
hours in the service of Lord Fairfax. Little did the 
old gentleman expect that he was educating a youth, 
who should one day dismember the British Empire 
and break his own heart — which truly came to pass. 



40 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

For on hearing that Washington had captured Corn- 
walHs and all his army, he called out to his black 
waiter, " Come, Joe ! carry me to my bed ! for I'm 
sure 'tis high time for me to die ! " 

Then up rose Joe, all at the word 

And took his master's arm. 
And to his bed he softly led, 

The lord of Green- way farm. 

There he call'd on Britain's name 

"And oft he wept full sore." — ■ 
Then sigh'd — thy will, O Lord be done — 

"And word spake never more." 

It was in his 15th year, according to the best of 
my information, that Washington first felt the kind- 
ling's of his soul for war. The cause was this^ — In 
those days the people of Virginia looked on Great 
Britain as the mother country ; and to go thither was, 
in common phrase, " to go home." The name of old 
England was music in their ears : and the bare men- 
tion of a blow meditated against her, never failed to 
rouse a something at the heart, which instantly flamed 
on the cheek, and flashed in the eye. Washington 
had his full share of these virtuous feelings : on hear- 
ing, therefore, that France and Spain were mustering 
a black cloud over his mother country, his youthful 
blood took fire ; and he instantly tendered what aid 
his little arm could afford. The rank of midshipman 
was procured for him on board a British ship of war, 
then lying in our waters ; and his trunk and clothes 
were actually sent on board. Btit when he came to 
take leave of his mother, she wept bitterly, and told 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 41 

him, she felt that her heart would break if he left her. 
George immediately got his trunk ashore! as he could 
not, for a moment, bear the idea of inflicting a wound 
on that dear life which had so long and sO' fondly 
sustained his own. 

Where George got his great military talents, is a 
question which none but the happy believers in a par- 
ticular Providence can solve : certain it is, his earthly 
parents had no hand in it. For of his father, tradition 
says nothing, save that he was a most amiable old 
gentlemen ; one who made good crops, and scorned 
to give his name to the quill-drivers of a counting-room. 
And as to his mother, it is well known that she was 
none of Bellona's firey race. For as some of the 
Virginia officers, just after the splendid actions of 
Trenton and Princeton, where complimenting her on 
the generalship and rising glory of her son, instead 
of shewing the exultation of a Spartan dame, she 
replied, with all the sang froid of a good old Friend, 
"Ah, dear me ! This lig'hting and killing is a sad 
thing ! I wish George would come home and look after 
his plantation ! ! " 

Nor does it appear that nature had mixed much 
of gunpowder in the composition of any of his brothers ; 
for when one of them, in the time of Braddock's war, 
wrote him a letter, signifying something like a wish 
to enter into the service ; George, it is said, gave him 
this short reply : " Brother, stay at home, and comfort 
your wife." 

But though not destined to figure on the quarter- 
deck of a man of war, yet he ceased not to cultivate 



42 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

that talent which had been given for higher uses. 
From Adjutant Muse, a Westmoreland volunteer, who 
had gained much credit in the war of Cuba, whence he 
had lately returned with Lawrence Washington, he 
learnt to go through the manual exercise with great 
dexterity. By the help of good treatises on the art of 
war, which were put into his hands by the same gentle- 
man, he soon acquired very clear ideas of the evolu- 
tions and movements of troops. And from Mons. 
Vanbraam, who afterwards accompanied him as in- 
terpreter to Venango, he acquired the art of fencing, 
at which, it is said, he was extremely expert. A 
passion, so uncommon for war, joined to a very manly 
appearance, and great dignity of character, could 
scarcely fail to attract on him the attention of the 
public. In fact the public sentiment was so strong in 
his favour, that at the green age of nineteen, he was 
appointed major and adjutant general of the Virginia 
forces in the Northern Neck, when training, as was 
expected, for immediate service. 

For his services as an adjutant general, he was 
allowed by the crown one hundred pounds sterling per 
annum. 




Cuurtesy Union League, Phila. 

WASHINGTON PRESENTING GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE's LETTER TO THE 
FRENCH COMMANDANT 



CHAPTER V 

French encroachments on the Ohio — Washington volunteers 
his service to Governor Dinwiddle — his hazardous embassy 
to the French and Indians — miraculous escapes — account 
of his journal — anecdote of his modesty. 

In the year 1753 the people of Virginia were 
alarmed by a report that the French, aided by the 
Indians, were erecting a long line of military posts 
on the Ohio. This manoeuvre, predicting no good to 
the ancient dominion, was properly resented by Robert 
Dinwiddle, the governor, who wished immediately in 
the name of his king to forbid the measure. But how 
to convey a letter to the French commandant on the 
Ohio, was the question. For the whole country west 
of the Blue Mountains, was one immeasurable forest, 
from time immemorial the gloomy haunt of ravening 
beasts and of murderous savages. No voices had ever 
broke the awful silence of those dreary woods, save 
the hiss of rattlesnakes, the shrieks of panthers, the 
yell of Indians, and howling tempests. From such 
scenes, though beheld but by the distant eye of fancy, 
the hearts of youth are apt to shrink with terror, and 
to crouch more closely to their safer fire-sides. But in 
the firmer nerves of Washington, they do not appear to 
have made the least impression of the agueish sort. 
The moment he heard of the governor's wishes, he 
waited on him with — a tender of his services. 

" Now Christ save my saoul, but ye'er a braw lad ! " 
said the good old Scotchman, " and gin ye play your 
cards weel, my boy, ye shall hae nae cause to rue your 

43 



44 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

bargain." The governor took him to his palace that 
night, which was spent in preparing his letters and in- 
structions. The next day, accompanied by an inter- 
preter and a couple of servants, he set out on his 
journey, which, being in the depth of winter, was as 
disagreeable and dangerous as Hercules himself could 
have desired. Drenching rains and drowning floods, 
and snow-covered mountains opposed his course ; but 
opposed in vain. The generous ambition to serve his 
country, and to distinguish himself, carried him through 
all; and, even at the most trying times, touched his 
heart with a joy unknown to the vain and trifling. 
On his way home he was way-laid and shot at by an 
Indian, who, though not fifteen paces distant, happily 
missed his aim. The poor wretch was made prisoner. 
But Washington could not find in his heart to put him 
to death, thoug'h his own safety seemed to require the 
sacrifice. The next evening, in attempting to cross a 
river on a raft, he was within an ace of being drowned ; 
and, the night following, of perishing in the ice ; but 
from both these imminent deadly risks, there was a 
hand unseen that efTected his escape. 

About the middle of January he returned to 
Williamsburgh ; and, instantly waiting on the governor, 
presented him the fruits of his labours — the belts of 
wampum which he had brought from the Indian kings 
as pledges of their friendship — the French governor's 
letters — and, last of all, his journal of the expedition. 
This, it seems, he had drawn up as a tub for the whale, 
that he might be spared the pain of much talking 
about himself and his adventures. For like the king 



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THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 45 

of Morven, '' though mighty deeds rolled from his 
soul of fire, yet his words were never heard." The 
governor was much pleased with the Indian belts — 
more with the Frenchman's letter — but most of all 
with Washington's journal, which he proposed to have 
printed immediately. Washington begged that his ex- 
cellency would spare him the mortification of seeing 
his journal sent out into the world in so mean a dress. 
He urged, that having been written in a wintry wilder- 
ness, by a traveller, young, illiterate, and often cold, 
wet, and weary, it needed a thousand amendments. 
" Hoot awa, Major," replied his excellency, " hoot 
awa, mon ; what tauk ye aboot amendments. I am 
sure the pamphlet need nae blush to be seen by his 
majesty himsel — and in geud troth I mean to send 
him a copy or twa of it. And besides our Assembly 
will rise to-morrow or next day, and I wish each of 
the members to tak a few copies hame with them. So 
we must e'en strait-way print the journal off hand as 
it is." 

The journal, of course, was immediately printed. 
Every eye perused it: and every tongue was loud in 
its praise. Indeed it was not easy to err on the side 
of excess ; for whoever with candour reads the journal, 
will readily pronounce it an unique in the history of 
juvenile productions. It discovers that vigour, and 
variety of talents, which take up, as it were intuitively, 
the views belonging to any new subject that presents 
itself. It is the hasty production of a young man, 
born in retreats of deepest solitude, in a time of pro- 
foundest peace, and brought up to the simple harm- 



16 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

less employment of a surveyor, an employment which, 
more than any other, tends to tranquillize the mind. 
The verdure and music of the love-breathing spring; 
the bright fields and harvests of joy-inspiring summer; 
the faded leaves and mournful silence of autumn, with 
winter's solemn grandeur; were the scenes in which 
the youth of Washington was passed. In these he 
hears the roar of distant war — from these he is sent 
forth to mark the gathering storm. Instantly he 
breathes the whole spirit of his new engagement — 
" Old things are done away : all things are become 
new." The chain and theodolite are forgotten — the 
surveyor is lost in the soldier. His shoulders are 
young: but they sustain the head of an old engineer. 
He marks the soil, the timber, the confluence of rivers, 
the sites for forts. In short, nothing connected with 
the defence of his country escapes him. He pene- 
trates the characters of the different people around 
him — the low sensuality of the Indian, ready, for a 
dram, to lift the tomahawk — the polished subtleties 
of the European, who can " smile and smile," and 
yet design the death of the traveller. These important 
truths present themselves intuitively to his mind ; and 
shine with such lustre in the pages of his journal, as to 
command the admiration of every unprejudiced reader. 
Among the gentlemen in Williamsburgh who had 
sense and virtue enough to appreciate the worth of 
Washington, one of the first was a Mr. Waller. This 
gentleman, conversing on that subject with Mr. Robert- 
son, speaker of the house of Burgesses, observed, that 
such services as those rendered by Major Washington, 
were far too important to be paid off by the light coin 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 47 

of common parlour puffs. " This young man," said 
he, " has deserved well of his country; and her Repre- 
sentatives in Assembly ought to acknowledge the obli- 
gation." " That's exactly my own opinion," replied 
Robertson: "and if you will let me know when the 
major next visits us, 1 will make a motion to that 
effect." 

The next day, Washington, not having ever dreamt 
of the honour intended him, entered the house ; and, 
going up stairs, took his seat in the gallery. The 
eagle-eyed friendship of Mr. Waller quickly discov- 
ered him; and stepping to the chair, whispered it to 
Mr. Robertson ; who instantly arose, and ordering 
silence, called out: "Gentlemen, it is proposed that 
the thanks of this house be given to Major Washing- 
ton, who now sits in the gallery, for the very gallant 
manner in which he executed the important trust lately 
reposed in him by his excellency governor Dinwiddie." 
In a moment the house rose as one man ; and turning 
towards Washington, saluted him with a general bow; 
and, in very flattering terms, expressed their high 
sense of his services. Had an earthquake shaken the 
capitol to the centre, it could hardly have so com- 
pletely confounded the major! He rose to make his 
acknov/ledgments, but, alas ; his tongue had forgotten 
its office. Thrice he essayed to speak: but thrice, in 
spite of every effort, his utterance failed him, save 
faintly to articulate, "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker!" 
To relieve him from his embarrassment, Mr. Robertson 
kindly called out, " Major Washington, Major Wash- 
ington, sit down ; your modesty alone is equal to your 
merit." 



CHAPTER VI 

The French and Indian war begins— Washington goes forth 
to meet the dangers of his country — aims a blow at Fort 
Du Quesne — fails — gallant defence of Fort Necessity — 
retires from the service in disgust — ^pressed into it again 
by General Braddock — defeat and death of Braddock, and 
dreadful slaughter of his army. 

" Well, what is to come, will come ! " said poor 
Paddy, when going to the gallows. Even so was 
come, as would seem, the time that was to come for 
" kings to go forth to battle." The truth is, numbers 
of poor tax-ground, and thence uneducated and half- 
starved wretches in Britain and France, were become 
diseased with a mortal cachexy or surcharge of bad 
humours; such as gambling, swindling, horse steal- 
ing, highway robbing, &c., which nothing but the 
saturnine pills and steel points of Mars could effec- 
tually carry off. Thus in all corrupted governments 
war is considered as a necessary evil. It was no doubt 
necessary then. 

Such was the remote cause. The proximate his- 
tory, or how the dance begun, we now proceed to 
relate. 

We have just seen that the French, pouring down 
from the lakes of Canada, thick as autumnal geese, 
were dashing away on the Ohio, at an alarming rate — 
multiplying forts— holding talks — and strengthening 
their alliances with the Indians. And we have seen, 
that Washington, with letters from governor Din- 
widdie, had been out among the parlezvous, conjuring 
48 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 49 

them by everything venerable in treaties, or valuable 
in peace, to desist from such unwarrantable measures. 
But all to no purpose: for the French commandant, 
smiling at Washington, as a greenhorn, and at Din- 
widdle as an old fool, continued his operations as 
vigorously as though he knew not that the country 
in question made a part of the British Empire. 

Swift as the broad-winged packets could fly across 
the deep, the news was carried to England. Its effect 
there was like that of a stone rudely hurled against a 
nest of hornets. Instantly, from centre to circum- 
ference, all is rage and bustle — the hive resounds with 
the maddening insects. Dark tumbling from their cells 
they spread the hasty wing, and shrill whizzing through 
the air, they rush to find the foe. Just so in the sea- 
ruling island, from queens house to ale-house, from 
king to cockney, all were fierce for fight. Even the 
red-nosed porters where they met, bending under their 
burdens, would stop in the streets, to talk of England's 
wrong: and, as they talked, their fiery snouts were 
seen to grow more fiery still, and more deformed. 
Then throwing their packs to the ground, and leaping 
into the attitude of boxers, with sturdy arms across, 
and rough black jaws stretched out, they bend for- 
ward to the fancied fight! The frog-eating foe, in 
shirtless ruffies and long lank queue seems to give 
ground! then rising in their might, with fire-striking 
eyes they press hard upon him ; and coming in, hand 
and foot, with kick and cuff, and many a hearty curse, 
they show the giggling crowd, how, damn 'em, they 
would thump the French. 
4 



50 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

The news was brought to Britain's king just as he 
had dispatched his pudding; and sat, right royally 
amusing himself with a slice of Gloucester and a 
nip of ale. From the lips of the king down fell the 
luckless cheese, alas ! not grac'd to comfort the 
stomach of the Lord's anointed ; while, crowned with 
snowy foam, his nut-brown ale stood untasted beside 
his plate. Suddenly as he heard the news, the monarch 
darkened in his place ; and answering darkness 
shrouded all his court. 

In silence he rolled his eyes of fire on the floor, 
and twirled his terrible thumbs! his pages shrunk 
from his presence ; for who could stand before the 
king of thundering ships, when wrath, in gleams of 
lightning, flashed from his " dark red eyes ? " Start- 
ing at length, as from a trance, he swallowed his ale : 
then clenching his fist, he gave the table a tremendous 
knock, and cursed the wooden-shoed nation by his 
God! Swift as he cursed, the dogs of war bounded 
from their kennels, keen for the chase : and, snuffing 
the blood of Frenchmen on every gale, they raised a 
howl of death which reached these peaceful shores. 
Orders were immediately issued, by the British gov- 
ernment, for the colonies to arm and unite in one con- 
federacy. Virginia took the lead ; and raised a regi- 
ment, to the second command in which she raised her 
favourite Washington. Colonel Fry, by right of seni- 
ority, commanded : but on his death, which happened 
soon after his appointment, Washington succeeded to 
the command. With this little handful, he bravely 
pushed out into the wilderness, in quest of the enemy ; 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 51 

and at a place called the Little Meadows, came up with 
a party under one Jumonville. This officer was killed, 
and all his men taken prisoners. 

From these prisoners, he obtained undoubted in- 
telligence, that the French troops on the Ohio con- 
sisted of upwards of a thousand regulars, and many 
hundreds of Indians. But notwithstanding this dis- 
heartening intelligence, he still pressed on undauntedly 
against the enemy, and, at a place called the Great 
Meadows, built a fort, which he called Fort Necessity. 

Soon as the lines of entrencliments were marked 
ofif, and then men about to fall to work, Washington 
seizing the hand of the first that was lifting the spade, 
cried out " Stop, my brave fellow ! my hand must 
heave the first earth that is thrown up in defence of 
this country ! " 

Leaving a small garrison behind him, he dashed 
on for Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt), hoping by the 
reduction of that important post, to strike terror into 
the enemy, and defeat their plans. But though this 
was a bold stroke of generalship, yet it appeared that 
he had not a force, sufficient to efifect it. For in the 
midst of this day's march, he was met by a party of 
friendly Indians, who, running up to him, with looks 
and gestures greatly agitated, cried out : " Fly ! fly ! 
don't look behind you ! your enemies are upon you, 
thick as the pigeons in the woods ! " 

Washington called a council of his officers, who 
advised an immediate return to Fort Necessity, which 
they hardly recovered before their sentinels fired an 
alarm ; came running in ; and stated that the woods 



52 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

were alive with Frenchmen and Indians! It should 
have been observed, that the dreadful news of the 
day before, had produced so shameful a desertion 
among his troops in the course of the night, that 
when the enemy attacked, which they did with 1500 
men, Washington had but 300 to stand by him. But 
never did the true Virginia valour shine more glori- 
ously than on this trying occasion — to see 300 young 
fellows — commanded by a smooth-faced boy — all un- 
accustomed to the terrors of war — far from home — 
and from all hope of help — shut up in a dreary wilder- 
ness — and surrounded by five times their number of 
savage foes, yet without sign of fear, preparing for 
mortal combat! Scarcely since the days of Leonidas 
and his three hundred deathless Spartans, had the sun 
beheld its equal. With hideous whoops and yells, the 
enemy came on like a host of tigers. The woods and 
rocks, and tall tree-tops, filled with Indians, were in 
one continued blaze and crash of fire-arms. Nor were 
our youthful warriors idle : but animated by their 
youthful commander, they plied their riflfes with such 
spirit, that the little fort resembled a volcano in full 
blast, roaring and discharging thick sheets of liquid 
fire and of leaden deaths among their foes. For nine 
glorious hours, salamander-like, enveloped in smoke 
and flames, they sustained the attack of the enemy's 
whole force, and laid two hundred of them dead on 
the spot! Discouraged by such desperate resistance, 
the French general, the Count de Villiers, sent in a 
flag to Washington, highly extolling his gallantry, and 
offering him the most honourable terms. It was stipu- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 53 

lated that Washington and his little band of heroes 
should march away with all the honours of war, and 
carry with them their military stores and baggage. 

On their return to the bosom of their country, they 
were everywhere received with the praises which they 
had so well deserved. The Legislature voted the thanks 
of the nation to Washington and his officers ; with a 
pistole to each of his men, about 300. 

In the course of the following winter, notice was 
given from the mother country, that American officers, 
acting with the British, should bear no command ! ! 
Hence the poorest shoat, if wearing the proud epaulette 
of a Briton, might command a Wolfe, if so unlucky 
as to be an American ! ! ! Incensed at such an outrage 
on common justice, and the rights of his countrymen, 
Washington threw up his commission, and retired to 
his plantation. Mount Vernon, lately left him by his 
brother Lawrence. Here, Cincinnatus-like, he betook 
him to his favorite plough. But the season called for 
the sword ; and he was now risen too high to be over- 
looked in times like those when troubles and fears 
began to darken over all the land. 

The report of his gallant but unsuccessful struggle 
with the French and Indians soon reached England: 
and the ministry thinking the colonies alone too weak 
to repel the enemy, hurried on General Braddock, with 
two heavy regiments, to their aid. This reinforce- 
ment arrived early in the spring of 1755. Leaving 
them at the Cai)es on their way up to Belle-haven 
(now Alexandria), Braddock called at Williamsburgh, 
to see Governor Dinwiddle, who attended him to 
Alexandria. 



54 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

" Where is Colonel Washington ? " said General 
Braddock. " I long to see him." 

" He is retired from the service, Sir," replied the 
Governor. 

" Retired ! Sir ! " continued the General, '* Colonel 
Washington retired! pray, Sir, what's the reason?" 

On hearing the cause, he broke into a passion against 
the order from the war-office as a shameful piece of 
partiality — and extolled Colonel Washington as " a 
young man of sense and spirit, who knew and asserted 
his rights as became a soldier and a British subject." 

He then wrote to Washington, whom he pressingly 
invited to join his army, and accept the rank of a 
volunteer aid-de-camp in his own family. This invita- 
tion was cheerfully accepted by our young countryman, 
who waited on General Braddock as soon as he heard 
of his arrival at Alexandria. About the same time, 
three companies of excellent Virginia marksmen, raised 
by order of the Legislature, arrived at the British 
camp. 

It was in the month of June, 1755, that the army, 
upwards of 2000 strong, left Alexandria; and, with 
their faces to the west, began their march to the 
mournful ditty of " over the hills and far away." On 
the route Washington was taken sick ; and by the 
time they had reached the Little Meadows, had be- 
come so very ill, that Braddock, at the instance of the 
physicians, insisted most peremptorily that he should 
lie by until Colonel Dunbar with the rear of the army 
came up. With great reluctance he yielded to their 
wishes. But so great were his fears for the army, lest 




/ 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 55 

in those wild woods it should fall into some Indian 
snare, that the moment his fever left him, he mounted 
his horse, and pursued, and overtook them the very 
evening before they fell into that ambuscade which he 
had all along dreaded. For the next morning, the 9th 
of July, when they were safely arrived within seven 
miles of Fort Duquesne ! and so confident of success, 
that their general swore he would that night sup either 
in Fort Duquesne or in the lower regions — behold, the 
Virginia Rangers discovered signs of Indians. 

Here Washington, with his usual modesty, observed 
to General Braddock what sort of an enemy he had 
now to deal with — an enemy who would not, like the 
Europeans, come forward to a fair contest in the field, 
but concealed behind the rocks and trees, carry on a 
deadly warfare with their rifles. He concluded with 
these words, " I beg of your excellency the honour to 
allow me to lead on with the Virginia Riflemen, and 
fight them in their own way." 

Had it been decreed that this hapless army should 
have been saved, this was the counsel to have efifected 
it. But it would seem, alas ! that heaven had ordained 
their fall in that distant land ; and there with their 
flesh to fatten the wolves and vultures on the hills of 
Monongahela. For General Braddock, who had all 
along treated the American officers with infinite con- 
tempt, rejected Washington's counsel, and swelling 
with most unmanly rage, replied, " High times, by 

High times ! when a young Buckskin can teach a 

British General how to fight ! " Instantly the pale, 
fever-worn cheeks of Was»hington turned fiery red. 



56 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

But smothering his feehngs, he rode towards his men, 
biting his hps with grief and rage, to think how many 
brave fellows would draw short breath that day through 
the pride and obstinacy of one epauletted madman. 
Formed in heavy columns the troops continued to 
advance. A little beyond the Monongahela, was a 
narrow defile, through which lay their road, with moss- 
grown rocks on either side, and aged trees that spread 
an awful shade. Here, in perfect concealment, the 
French and Indians lay, waiting impatiently for this 
devoterl army. Too soon, alas ! the army came up, and 
entering the defile, moved along in silence, like sheep 
to the slaughter, little dreaming how close the bloody 
fates hovered around them. Thinking their prey now 
completely in their clutches, all at once, the Indians 
set up the most hideous yells, as if the woods were 
filled with ten thousand panthers. This they did, both 
as a terror to the British, and a signal to attack ; for 
in the same moment they poured in a general fire, 
which instantly covered the ground with death in 
every hideous shape. Some were seen sinking pale 
and lifeless at once, giving up the ghost with only a 
hollow groan — others rolljng on the earth, convulsed 
and shrieking in the last agonies, while life and life's 
warm blood together gushed in hissing torrents from 
their breasts. Such sights of their bleeding comrades, 
had the enemy but been in view, instead of depressing 
would but have inflamed British blood with fiercer 
thirst for vengeance. But, alas ! to be thus entrapped 
in a dreary wild ! to be thus pent up, and shot from 
behind rocks and trees, by an invisible enemy, was 



THE LIFE OF WASIIIXGTOX 57 

enough to dismay the stoutest hearts. Their native 
valour, however, and confidence in themselves, did not 
at once forsake them. But, animated by their officers, 
they stood their ground, and for a considerable time 
fought like heroes. But seeing no impression made 
by their fire, while that of the enemy, heavy as at 
first, with fatal flashes continued to cut down their 
ranks, they at length took a panic, and fell into great 
confusion. Happily, on the left, where lay the dead- 
liest fire, Washington's rangers were posted ; but not 
exposed like the British. For, on hearing the horrible 
savage yells, in a moment they flew each to his tree, 
like the Indians ; and like them, each levelled his rifle, 
and with as deadly aim. This, through a kind Provi- 
dence, saved Braddock's army; for exulting in their 
confusion, the savages, grimly painted, yelling like 
furies, burst from their coverts, eager to glut their 
hellish rage with a total massacre of the British, But, 
faithful to their friends, Washington's rangers stepped 
forth v/ith joy to meet the assailants. Then rose a 
scene sufficient to fill the stoutest heart with horror. 
Burning alike for vengeance, both parties throw aside 
the slow-murdering rifles, and grasp their swift-fated 
tomahawks. Dreadfully above their heads gleams the 
brandished steel, as with full exerted limbs, and faces 
all inflamed with mortal hate, they level at each other 
their last decisive blows. Death rages through all 
their fast-thinning ranks — his bleeding victims are 
rolled together on every side. Here falls the brave 
Virginia Blue, under the stroke of his nimbler foe — 
and there, man on man the Indians perish beneath the 



58 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

furious tomahawks, deep buried in the shattered brain. 
But who can tell the joy of Washington, when he saw 
this handful of his despised countrymen thus gallantly 
defending their British friends, and by dint of mortal 
steel driving back their bloodthirsty assailants. Happy 
check! for by this time, covered with wounds. Brad- 
dock had fallen — his aids and officers, to a man, killed 
or wounded — and his troops, in hopeless, helpless de- 
spair, flying backwards and forwards from the fire of 
the Indians, like flocks of crowding sheep from the 
presence of their butchers. Washington alone remained 
unhurt ! Horse after horse had been killed under him. 
Showers of bullets had touched his locks or pierced 
his regimentals. But still protected by heaven — still 
supported by a strength not his own, he had continued 
to fTy from quarter to quarter, where his presence was 
most needed, sometimes animating his rangers ; some- 
times striving, but in vain, to rally the regulars. 'Twas 
his lot to be close to the brave but imprudent Braddock 
when he fell ; and he assisted to place him in a tumbril, 
or little cart. As he was laid down, pale and near spent, 
with loss of blood, he faintly said to Washington — 

" Well, Colonel, what's to be done now? " 

" Retreat, Sir," replied Washington : " retreat by 
all means; for the Regulars won't fight; and the 
Rangers are nearly all killed ! " 

" Poor fellows ! " he replied, " poor fellows. — Well, 
do as you will. Colonel, do as you will." 

The army then commenced its retreat, in a very 
rapid and disorderly manner, while Washington with 
his few surviving rangers, covered the rear. 




DEFEAT OF GENERAL BRADDOCK 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 59 

Happily, the Indians did not pursue them far: but 
after firing a few random shots, returned in a body, 
to fall upon the plunder; while Washington, with his 
frightened fugitives, continued their retreat, sadly re- 
membering that more than one-half of their morning's 
gay companions were left a prey to the ravening beasts 
of the desert. There, denied the common charities of 
the grave, they lay for many a year bleaching the lonely 
hills with their bones. 

On reaching Fort Cumberland, where they met 
Colonel Dunbar with the rear of the army. General 
Braddock died. He died in the arms of Washington, 
whose pardon he often begged for having treated 
him so rudely that fatal morning — heartily wished, he 
said, he should be glad to live if it was only to reward 
his rangers " brave fellows ! glorious fellows ! " Often 
said he should be glad to live if it was only to reward 
their gallantry ! I have more than once been told, but 
cannot vouch for the truth of it, that his sister, on 
hearing how obstinately Washington and his Blues had 
fought for her brother, was so affected that she shed 
tears: and sent them from England handsome cock- 
ades, according to their number, and a pair of colours 
elegantly wrought by her own fair hands. 

With respect to Washington, I cannot but mention 
here two very extraordinary speeches that were made 
about him, after Braddock's defeat, and which, as 
things have turned out, look a good deal like pro- 
phecies. A famous Indian warrior, who acted a lead- 
ing part in that bloody tragedy, was often heard to 
swear, that " Washington was never bom to be killed 



60 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

by a bullet! For," continued he, "I had seventeen 
fair fires at him with my rifle, and after all could not 
bring him to the ground ! " And indeed, whoever 
considers that a good rifle levelled by a proper marks- 
man, hardly ever misses its aim, will readily enough 
conclude with this unlettered savage, that there was 
some invisible hand that turned aside the bullets. 

The Rev. Mr. Davies, in a sermon occasioned by 
Braddock's defeat, has these remarkable words — " I 
beg leave to point the attention of the public to that 
heroic youth Colonel Washington, whom I cannot but 
hope Providence has preserved for some great service 
to this country ! ! " 

But though the American writers have pretty unani- 
mously agreed that Washington was, under God, the 
saving Angel that stood up between Braddock's army 
and total destruction, yet did it profit him but little 
with his sovereign. The British officers indeed ad- 
mired him : but they had no idea of going any farther : 
" To tell in Gath, or publish in the streets of Askalon " 
that a British army owed its safety to a young Buck- 
skin, required a pitch of virtue and of courage above 
ordinary minds. Washington was therefore kept in 
the background; and General Braddock being dead, 
the command devolved upon Colonel Dunbar, whose 
conduct proved him to be one of those pusillanimous 
hirelings, who flee when the wolf cometh. To attempt, 
by some gallant effort to recover what Braddock had 
lost, — or to hang upon the enemy, and prevent, at least, 
those numerous scalping parties, which distracted with 
midnight murders and deluged the defenceless frontiers 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 61 

with blood, were brave and generous ideas, of whicli 
he seemed incapable. But, trembHng under the general 
panic, he instantly ordered the tents to be struck ; and 
pushing off under the whip and spur of his fears, never 
halted until he had reached Philadelphia; where he 
went, as he called it, into winter quarters (in the be- 
ginning of the dog-days!), leaving all the frontiers of 
Maryland and Virginia exposed to the merciless 
tomahawk. 

Such facts ought to be recorded for the benefit of 
young men, who, with no military qualifications but 
big limbs, can yet covet red coats and shoulder-knots. 

Being thus shamefully deserted by Colonel Dunbar, 
Washington with his thirty rangers, set out with sor- 
rowful hearts to return home. But before he left 
Fort Cumberland, he dispatched an express, to inform 
Governor Dinwiddie that " General Braddock was slain 
—his army totally defeated — the remnant on their 
march to Philadelphia — and the whole frontier given 
up to the Indians ! " The consternation that was spread 
throughout the country by this news, was inexpressible. 
Heart-sickening terrors, as of a woman in labour, 
seized upon all families — and a frightened fancy found 
food for its fears in everything around it — the blast 
whistling round the corners of their cabin, alarmed, 
like the yell of murderous savages — the innocent death- 
bell — the croaking raven — the midnight howl of dogs — 
were all sure harbingers of fate. While, for dread of 
the Indians, the roads were filled with thousands of 
distracted parents, with their weeping little ones, flying 
from their homes. 



62 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

The Governor instantly ordered a call of the Legis- 
lature, who, by the time Washington reached Williams- 
burgh, were assembled, and, together with numbers 
of citizens, went out and met him near the town. 

The interview was tender. For the citizens were 
almost moved to tears, when they saw that of so many 
of their brave countrymen who went forth to battle, 
only this little handful remained ! They were exceed- 
ingly rejoiced to see, alive and well, their beloved 
Washington. He had always been dear to them ; but 
now doubly dear, in such times of danger. They 
mourned the misfortunes of their country ; but laid 
no blame to him. On the contrary, it was universally 
believed, that, but for him the ruin would have been 
complete. " Braddock," said they, " lost the victory : 
but Washington saved the army." 



CHAPTER VII 

Fatal effects of Braddock's defeat — ^Washington wishes to 
carry the war into the Indian country — government re- 
fuses — defensive war preferred — the frontiers desolated. 

Great was the joy at Fort Duquesne on the return 
of their troops from the slaughter of Braddock's army. 
The idea of victory, as appeared afterwards, had never 
once entered their heads. — They had gone out just to 
reconnoitre, and harass the British in their approach ! 
How unbounded then must have been the joy of the 
garrison, on seeing their friends come back next morn- 
ing, not sad and spiritless, as had been expected, but 
whooping and shouting for a glorious victory ; and 
enriched with the artillery, ammunition, provisions, and 
baggage-waggons of a British army cut to pieces ! ! 

The French commandant took care to make a proper 
use of his advantage ; for as soon as the days of savage 
feasting and drunkenness were over, he sent out depu- 
tations of his chiefs with grand-talks to several of the 
neighbouring tribes, who had not yet lifted the hatchet. 

The tribes being assembled, and the calumet or pipe 
of friendship smoked around, the chiefs arose; and in 
all the pomp of Indian eloquence announced their great 
victory over Long Knife (the Virginians) and his white 
brothers (the British) — then with a proud display of 
the numerous scalps and rich dresses which they had 
taken, they concluded with inviting the young men to 
unbury the tomahawk, and rush with them to drink 
the blood of their enemies. 

63 



64 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

This was enough — " Grinning- horribly a ghastly 
smile," at such prospects of blood and plunder, the 
grim children of the desert, rose up at once to war. 
No time was lost in preparation. A pouch of parched 
corn, and a bear-skin, with a rifle, tomahawk, and 
scalping knife, were their equipage. And in a few 
weeks after Braddock's defeat, an army of at least 
fourteen hundred of those bloodthirsty savages were in 
full march over hills and mountains, to surprise and 
murder the frontier inhabitants. 

Washington had early foreseen the storm that 
would one day burst from Fort Du Quesne. On his 
first trip through that country, two years before, he 
had marked the very spot, and pointed it out as " the 
key of the western world." But Britain and America 
(like the wild ass and her colts, though mule-stubborn 
in acting, yet snail-slow to act), let the golden chance 
escape ; till one Du Quesne, a French officer, with some 
troops, passing along that way in 1754, and struck, as 
Washington had been, with the situation, immediately 
built thereon a fort, v/hich he called after his own 
name. It answered the fatal purposes which Wash- 
ington had predicted. By means of the bold water 
courses on which it stood, it greatly favoured the con- 
veyance both of goods and of intelligence. There the 
French laid up magazines for their Indian allies, and 
there they hoisted the dread signals of war. 

Not having been able to prevail on his countrymen 
to occupy it before the enemy, Washington's whole 
ambition now was to take it from them. " Send two 
thousand men," — said he, in numerous importunate 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 65 

letters to tRe Governor and Legislature, " send two 
thousand men, and drain the fountain at once — the 
streams will fail of course." 

But, spite of this advice, the mad policy of a de- 
fensive war prevailed in the Virginia Government, 
and instead of raising 2000 men, they voted to raise 
about half that number! and then, like hypocrites who 
make up in lip-service what they lack in good works, 
they dubbed him Commander in chief of all the troops 
raisefl or to be raised in Virginia, v/ith the privilege of 
naming his own field officers ! 

These vain honours served but to exalt him to a 
higher sphere of misery — the misery of taking a v/ider 
survey of those misfortunes of his country which he 
could not remedy, — and to feel a deeper responsibility 
for those blunders of others, which he could not cure. 
He saw Fort Duquesne mustering her murderers, which 
he had no powers to prevent! He had a frontier of 
360 m.iles to defend, and generally less than 700 men 
to defend it with ! If he kept his troops embodied, the 
whole country would be left open to the savages. If he 
broke them down into small parties, they might be 
destroyed one after another, by a superior force. If he 
threw them into forts, they were sure to be starved, 
or derided by the enemy, who could easily pass them 
in the night and surprise, destroy, and murder the in- 
habitants with impunity. And though thus completely 
crippled by the stupidity or parsimony of the govern- 
ment, and incapacitated from doing any services for 
his country, yet great services were expected of him, 
and great blame bestowed for every failure. If no 
5 



66 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

victories were gained over the enemy, he would be 
blamed for inactivity. If the settlers were murdered, 
he would be accused of neglect — and if he pointed out 
the errors of government, he would be charged as 
" officious " and " impertinent " ; and this while young 
officers of the worthless sort, mere cork-drawers and 
songsters at great men's tables, were basely cutting ii? 
with a weak old governor's prejudices, to work him out, 
and to worm themselves into favour and rank. 

But all these vexations and sorrows were but trifles 
in comparison of others which he was doomed to feel. 
Seeing no hopes of a force sufficient to attack Fort 
Duquesne, he formed a chain of garrisons along the 
frontier; and then, with a flying corps of the most 
active and daring young men, continued night and day, 
to scour the country in quest of the enemy's murdering 
parties. In this bold and dangerous employment, 
which lasted almost three years, he was often pre- 
sented with sights of human destruction, sufficient to 
excite sympathy in hearts of flintiest stone. 

On cautiously entering the hapless plantation with 
his men, they halt and listen awhile — but hear no voice 
of man — see no house, nor sign of habitation — all is 
void and silent. Marking the buzzards perched on the 
trees in the corn-fields, they approach, and find, lying 
by his plough, the half-devoured carcass of a man. 
The hole in his breast shows that he had been shot, 
while the deep gashes in the forehead of his dead 
horses, point out the bursting strokes of the tomahawk. 
Amidst the ashes of the late dwelling are seen, white 
as chalk, the bones of the mother and her children. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 67 

But sometimes their raw and bloody skeletons, fed on 
by the hogs, are found in the yards or gardens where 
they were surprised. 

" One day " — said he to an intimate ; though it was 
but seldom that he mentioned those things, they gave 
him so much pain — "One day, as we drew near through 
the woods, to a dwelling, suddenly we heard the dis- 
charge of a gim. Whereupon quickening our pace, 
and creeping up through the thick bushes to a fence, 
we saw what we had dreaded — a party of Indians, 
loaded with plunder, coming out of a house, which, by 
the smoke, appeared as if it were just set on fire. In a 
moment we gave the savages a shower of riffe balls, 
which killed every man of them but one. He attempted 
to run off. It was in vain. Some of our swift-footed 
hunters gave chase, and soon overtook and immolated 
him with their tomahawks. On rushing into the house, 
and putting out the fire, we saw a mournful sight in- 
deed — a young woman lying on a bed floating in 
blood — her forehead cleft with a hatchet — and on her 
breast two little children, apparently twins, and about 
nine months old, bathing her bosom with the crimson 
currents flowing from their deeply gashed heads ! I 
had often beheld the mangled remains of my mur- 
dered countrymen ; but never before felt what I did 
on this occasion. To see these poor innocents — these 
little unoffending angels, just entered upon life, and, 
instead of fondest sympathy and tenderness, meeting 
their hideous deaths; and from hands of brothers, 
too! filled my soul with the deepest horror of sin! but 
at the same time inspired a most adoring sense of that 



68 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

religion which announces the Redeemer, who shall, one 
day, do away man's malignant passions, and restore 
the children of God to primeval love and bliss. With- 
out this hope, what man of feeling but would wish he 
had never been born ! 

" On tracing back into the corn-field the steps of the 
barbarians, we found a little boy, and beyond him his 
father, both weltering in blood. It appeared, from 
the print of his little feet in the furrows, that the 
child had been following his father's plough ; and, 
seeing him shot down, had set off with all his might, 
to get to the house to his mother ; but was overtaken 
and destroyed ! 

"And, indeed, so great was the dread entertained 
of the French and Indians, throughout the settle- 
ments, that it was distressing to call even on those 
families who yet survived, but, from sickness or other 
causes, had not been able to get away. The poor 
creatures would run to meet us, like persons half 
distracted with joy — and then with looks blank with 
terror, would tell that such or such a neighbour's 
family, perhaps the very night before, was murdered ! 
— and that they heard their cries ! — and saw the flames 
that devoured their houses ! — and also, that they them- 
selves, after saying their prayers at night, never lay 
down to sleep, without first taking leave of one another, 
as if they never expected to meet again in this world. 
But when we came to take our leave of these wretched 
families, my God ! what were our feelings ! to see the 
deep, silent grief of the men; and the looks of the poor 
women and children, as, falling upon their knees, with 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 69 

piercing screams, and eyes wild with terror, they seized 
our hands, or hung to our clothes, intreating us, for 
God's sake, and for mercy sake, not to leave them. I 
remember, these things so harassed my heart with 
grief, that I solemnly declare to God, if I know 
myself, I would gladly offer my own life a sacrifice 
to the butchering enemy, if I could thereby insure the 
safety of these my poor distressed countrymen." 

Such were the scenes in which Washington was 
doomed to spend three years of a wretched life, ren- 
dered still more wretched by knowing so perfectly as 
he did, that the rapid charge of two thousand brave 
fellows upon Fort Duquesne, like the thundering shock 
of a two-and-forty pounder upon a water-spout, would 
liave instantly dispersed the fatal meteor, and restored 
the golden hours of peace and safety. But to give 
Colonel Washington two thousand men, seemed to old 
Governor Dinwiddie, like giving the staff out of his 
own hand, as 'he elegantly called it ; and rather than do 
that, he would risk the desolation of the western coun- 
try, by continuing a defensive war, and a mad depend- 
ence on a disorderly militia, who would come and go 
as they pleased — get drunk and sleep when they pleased 
— whoop and halloo where they pleased — and, in short, 
serve no other purpose on earth but to disgrace their 
officers, deceive the settlers, and defraud the public. 
Indeed, so ruinous were these measures of Governors 
Dinwiddie and Loudon, that, in the short space of three 
years, they completely broke up all the fine young 
settlements to the westward of Winchester, Frederick- 
town, and Carlisle, whereby numbers of poor people 



70 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

were butchered! hundreds of rich plantations deserted! 
myriads of produce lost! and thousands of dollars 
sunk ! and all for the sake of saving the paltry expense 
of raising in the first instance a force which would in 
ten weeks have taken Fort Duquesne, and completely 
broken up that den of thieves and murderers! 

At length, in 1758, the government of Virginia 
devolved on General Forbes, who, to the infinite satis- 
faction of Washington, consented to second his views 
on Fort Duquesne. Washington earnestly recom- 
mended an early campaign, lest the Indian warriors 
who were to meet them in April at Winchester, should 
grow tired of waiting, and return home. But the 
season was, unfortunately, so idled away, that 
marching orders were not given till the first of Sep- 
tember, when, according to Washington's prediction, 
there was not a red man to be found in camp. The 
army then commenced its movements, but still as 
would seem, under the frown of heaven. 

For instead of sweeping along the old track, gen- 
erally called Braddock's road, General Forbes was 
persuaded to take an entirely new route, of which 
every inch was to be cut through wilds and moun- 
tains covered with rocks and trees ! In vain Wash- 
ington remonstrated against this as a measure, 
" which " he said, " if persisted in at this late season, 
would certainly ruin the undertaking." — General Forbes 
was inflexible. 

In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Burgesses, 
Washington has these remarkable words — " If this 
conduct of our leaders do not flow from superior 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 71 

orders, it must flow from a weakness, too gross for 
me to name. Nothing now but a miracle can bring 
this campaign to a happy issue." In a letter of a 
later date he says, " well, all's lost ! our enterprise is 
ruined! And we shall be stopped this winter at the 
Laurel Hills ! " 

By the middle of November, after incredible exer- 
tions, the army, sure enough, reached the Laurel 
Hills, where Washington predicted it would winter; 
and strange to tell ! General Forbes, with a caucus 
squad of his officers were actually in deep debate, 
whether they should spend the winter in that inhos- 
pitable wild, or tread back their mournful steps to 
Winchester, when some prisoners brought the wel- 
come news that the garrison of Fort Duquesne, for 
a long time past unsupported by their countrymen, 
and now deserted by the Indians, was so reduced, 
that they would surrender at the sight of an enemy. 
General Forbes instantly changed his mind, and with 
a select detachment made a push for Fort Duquesne, 
the ruins of which he entered, without opposition, on 
the 28th of November, 1758. For, advertised of his 
approach, the French determined to quit it; and after 
having set fire to the buildings, embarked in their boats, 
and went down the river. 

Having thus, after three years of labour and sor- 
row, attained his favourite wish — the reduction of Fort 
Duquesne and a total dispersion of the savages, Wash- 
ington returned with joy to Williamsburgh, to take his 
seat in the legislature, to which he had been regularly 
chosen in his absence. 



72 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

It is worthy of remark, because it happens but to 
few, that though he often failed of success, he never 
once lost the confidence of his country. Early aware 
of the importance of character, to those who wish to 
be useful, he omitted no honest act, thought no pains, 
no sacrifice of ease too great, to procure and preserve 
it. In the whole of that stupidly-managed war, as 
also another subsequent war, which was not much 
better conducted, he always took care to keep the public 
well informed as to the part which he had acted, or 
wished to act, in the affair. Not content to know 
himself that he had acted wisely or bravely, he took 
care that the public should also know it ; in order that 
if at any time an uproar should be made, the error 
might be charged to the real offender. If the legis- 
lature, or Governor Dinwiddie, or General Braddock, 
or any other superior, with whom he had public con- 
cern, and character at stake, made propositions which 
he disliked, he would modestly point out their errors, 
predict their mischiefs, and thus wash his hands of all 
blame: — which documents, through the channel of 
numerous letters to his friends, were always laid before 
the people. Hence, for the ruinous consequences of 
the weakness and obstinacy of Dinwiddie and Brad- 
dock, not a breath of censure was ever blown on him. 
On the contrary, in the public mind, he always rose as 
high, or higher, than the others sunk. It was univer- 
sally believed, that had he governed, in place of Din- 
widdie, the fatal Indian war would not have lasted a 
campaign ; and that on the hills of Monongahela, had 
Washington commanded in place of Braddock, the 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 73 

French and Indians would have been handled very 
differently. Such were the sentiments with which the 
public were prepared to receive him, on his return into 
their welcoming bosom. Wherever he went, homage 
always waited upon him, though always uncourted. 
The grey-headed rose up to do him honour, when he 
came into their company; and the young men, with 
sighs, often wished for a fame like his. Happy was 
the fairest lady of the land, who, at the crowded ball, 
could get Colonel Washington for her partner. And 
even at the house where prayer is wont to be made, 
the eyes of beauty would sometimes wander from 
the cold reading preacher, to catch a livelier devotion 
from his " mind-illumined face," — a face at once so 
dignified with virtue, and so sweetened with grace, that 
none could look on it without emotions very friendly 
to the heart; and sighs of sentiment, too delicate for 
description, were often seen to heave the snowy bosoms 
of the noblest dames. 

At the head of all these stood the accomplished 
Mrs. Martha Custis, the beautiful and wealthy widow 
of Mr. John Custis. Her wealth was equal at least, 
to one hundred thousand dollars ! But her beauty was 
a sum far larger still. It was not the shallow boast 
of a fine skin, which time so quickly tarnishes, nor of 
those short-lived roses, which sometimes wither almost 
as soon as blown. But it sprung from the heart — from 
the divine and benevolent affections, which spontane- 
ously gave to her eyes, her looks, her voice and her 
manners, such angelic charms, that I could never look 
on her, without exclaiming with the poet, O! 



74 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

"'She was nearest heaven of all on earth I knew; 
And all but adoration was her due." 

For two such kindred souls to love, it was only 
necessary that they should meet. Their friendship 
commenced with the first hour of their acquaintance, 
and was soon matured to marriage, which took place 
about the 27th year of Washington's life. His lady 
was, I believe, six months younger. 

But that it is contrary to the rules of biography to 
begin with the husband and end with the wife, I 
could relate of that most excellent lady those things 
which the public would greatly delight to hear. How- 
ever, gratitude to that bright saint, now in heaven, 
who was my noblest benefactress, while I preached in 
her parish, compels me to say, that her virtues and 
charities were of that extensive and sublime sort, as 
fully to entitle her hie jacct to the following noble 
epitaph, a little altered, from one of the British poets. 

Underneath this marble hearse, 
Lies the subject of all verse. 
Custis' widow — ^great George's wife — 
Death ! ere thou robb'st another life, 
Virtuous, fair, and good as she, 
Christ shall launch a dart at thee. 



CHAPTER VIII 

Washington's mother has a very curious dream — it points to 
great coming trouble — a cloud arising in England — the 
causes of the revolutionary war. 

When a man begins to make a noise in the world, 
his relatives (the Father, sometimes, but always that 
tenderer parent, the Mother) are sure to recollect 
certain mighty odd dreams, which they had of him 
when he was a child. What rare dreams, for example, 
had the mothers of " Macedonia's madman, and the 
Swede," while pregnant with those butchers of the 
human race ! Mrs. Washington also had her dream, 
which an excellent old lady of Fredericksburg assured 
me she had often heard her relate with great satis- 
faction; and, for the last time, but a few weeks before 
her death. 

" I dreamt," said the Mother of Washington, " that 
I was sitting in the piazza of a large new house, into 
which we had but lately moved. George, at that time 
about five years old, was in the garden with his corn- 
stalk plough, busily running little furrows in the sand, 
in imitation of Negro Dick, a fine black boy, with 
whose ploughing George was so delighted that it was 
sometimes difficult to get him to his dinner. And so 
as I was sitting in the piazza at my work, I suddenly 
heard in my dream a kind of roaring noise on the 
eastern side of the house. On running out to see what 
was the matter, I beheld a dreadful sheet of fire burst- 

75 



76 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

ing from the roof. The sight struck me with a horror 
which took away my strength, and threw me, almost 
senseless, to the ground. My husband and the servants, 
as I saw in my dream, soon came up ; but, like myself, 
were so terrified at the sight, that they could make no 
attempt to extinguish the flames. In this most dis- 
tressing state, the image of my little son came, I 
thought, to my mind more dear and tender than ever : 
and turning towards the garden where he was engaged 
with his little corn-stalk plough, I screamed out twice 
with all my might, George! George! — In a moment, 
as I thought, he threw down his mimic plough, and 
ran to me, saying, " High ! Ma ! what makes you call 
so angry? 'An't I a good boy — don't I always run to 
you soon as I hear you call? " I could make no reply, 
but just threw up my arms towards the flame. He 
looked up and saw the house all on fire : but instead of 
bursting out a crying, as might have been expected 
from a child, he instantly brightened up, and seemed 
ready to fly to extinguish it. But first looking at me 
with great tenderness, he said, " Oh, Ma ! don't be 
afraid: God Almighty will help us, and we shall soon 
put it out." His looks and words revived our spirits 
in so wonderful a manner, that we all instantly set 
about to assist him. A ladder was presently brought, 
on which, as I saw in my dream, he ran up with the 
nimbleness of a squirrel; and the servants supplied 
him with water, which he threw on the fire from 
an American gourd. But that growing weaker, the 
flame appeared to gain ground, breaking forth and 
roaring most dreadfully, which so frightened the 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 77 

servants, that many of them, like persons in despair, 
began to leave him. But he, still undaunted, con- 
tinued to ply it with water, animating the servants 
at the same time, both by his word and actions. For 
a long time the contest appeared very doubtful : but at 
length a venerable old man, with a tall cap and an 
iron rod in his hand, like a lightning rod, reached 
out to him a curious little trough, like a wooden shoe ! 
On receiving this, he redoubled his exertions, and 
soon extinguished the fire. Our joy on the occasion 
was unbounded. But he, on the contrary, showing 
no more of transport now than of terror before, looked 
rather sad at sight of the great harm that had been 
done. Then I saw in my dream that after some 
time spent as in deep thought, he called out with 
much joy, " Well, Ma ! now if you and the family 
will but consent, we can make a far better roof than 
this ever was ; a roof of such a quality, that if well 
kept together, it will last for ever; but if you take it 
apart, you will make the house ten thousand times 
worse than it was before." 

This, though certainly a very curious dream, needs 
no Daniel to interpret it ; especially if we take Mrs. 
Washington's new house, for the young Colony 
Government — the fire on its east side, for North's civil 
war — the gourd which Washington first employed, 
for the American three and six months' enlistments — 
the old man with his cap and iron rod, for Doctor 
Franklin — the shoe-like vessel which he reached to 
Washington, for the Sabot or wooden-shoed nation, 
the French, whom Franklin courted a long time for 



78 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

America — and the new roof proposed by Washington, 
for a staunch honest Repubhc— that " equal govern- 
ment," which, by guarding ahke the welfare of all, 
ought by all to be so heartily beloved as to endure 
forever. 

Had it been appointed unto any man to quaff un- 
mingled happiness in this life, George Washington had 
been that man. For where is that pleasurable ingredi- 
ent with which his cup was not full and overflowing? 

Crowned with honours — laden with riches — .blest 
with health — and in the joyous prime of twenty-seven, 
sharing each rural sweet in the society of a charming 
woman who doated on him, he surely bid fair to spend 
his days and nights of life in ceaseless pleasure. — But 
ah! — as sings the sweet bard of Zion, 

Our days, alas ! our mortal days, 

Are short and wretched too ! 
" Evil and few ! " the Patriarch says, 

And well the Patriarch knew ! 
'Tis but at best, a narrow bound, 

That Heaven allots to men ; 
And pains and sins run through the round 

Of three-score years and ten ! 

From this, the universal lot, not Washington him- 
self could obtain exemption. For in the midst of his 
favourite labours, of the plough and pruning-hook, 
covering his extensive farms with all the varied de- 
lights of delicious fruits and golden grain, of lowing 
herds and snowy flocks, he was suddenly called on by 
his country, to turn his plough-share into a sword, 
and go forth to meet a torrent of evils which threat- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 79 

ened her. The fountain of those evils, whence at 
length flowed the great civil war, which for ever sep- 
arated Britain and her children, I proceed now briefly 
to state. 

After the reduction of Canada, the British ofificers 
who commanded on that expedition, came to Boston 
and New York, on a visit to their American brethren 
in arms, who had served with them in that war. Soon 
as their arrival was announced, the Americans flew to 
meet and welcome them. They were paraded through 
the streets as the saviours of the land — the doors of 
all were thrown open to receive them — and every day, 
during their stay, was spent in feasting and public 
dinners, which, for the sake of their beloved guests, 
were made as splendid as possible, though always 
through the aid of obliging neighbours. The rooms 
glittered with borrowed plate — wines of every vintage 
sparkled on the crowded sideboards — while the long 
extended tables were covered with the finest fish and 
flesh, succeeded by the richest desserts. The British 
ofiicers were equally charmed and astonished at such 
elegant hospitality, and, on their return to England, 
gave full scope to their feelings. They painted the 
Colonial wealth in the colourings of romance; and 
spoke of the Americans as a people, who, in com- 
parison of the British, lived like kings. 

Thus, American hospitalit}^ by a strange perver- 
sion, had nearly destroyed American Liberty! For, 
from that time, the British ministry began to look upon 
the Americans with an evil eye, and to devise ways 
and means to make us " bear a part of their burdens ! " 



80 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

But what did they mean by this? Did they mean to 
acknowledge us as sons of Britons ; equally free and 
independent with our brethren in England? and, like 
them, allowed a representation in Parliament, who 
should freely vote our money for the common cause? 

Oh no! an idea so truly British and honourable, 
was not at all in their thoughts. We were not to be 
treated as brothers, but as slaves! over whom an un- 
conditional right was claimed, to tax and take our 
property at pleasure ! ! ! 

Reader, if you be a Briton, be a Briton still — pre- 
serve the characteristic calm and candour of a Briton. 
I am not about to say one word against your nation. 
No! I know them too well: and thank God, I can 
say, after several years' residence among them, I be- 
lieve them tO' be as honest, charitable, and magnani- 
mous a people as any under the canopy of Heaven. 
I am about to speak of the Ministry only, who cer- 
tainly, at that time, were a most ambitious and in- 
triguing junto, who by bad means had attained power, 
and by worse were endeavouring to extend it, even 
to the destruction of both American and British 
Liberty, as the excellent Mr. Pitt charged them.— No 
Englishman can desire fuller evidence than this one 
tyrannical claim made against us by Lord North — 
" taxation without representation II " As a plea for 
such despotic doing. North and his creatures began 
with boldly trumpeting the wonderful kindness they 
had conferred on America. They, it seems, first 
discovered the country !— they settled it— they always 
had defended it. It was their blood— their treasure— 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 81 

their ships and sailors, and soldiers, that created the 
British colonies ! ! 

O dear!— and what then!— why, to be sure, after 
having done such mighty things for the Americans, 
they had as clear a right to their gold and silver, as 
a butcher has to the hair and hides of his cattle ! 

This language was actually carried into Parliament ! 
where a Mr. Charles Townsend, to enforce the stamp 
act, cried out, " Who are these Americans ? Are they 
not our children, planted by our care, nourished by 
our indulgence, and protected by our arms ? " 

At this the brave Colonel Barre, with cheeks in- 
flamed with virtuous indignation, thus thundered forth 
against the insolent speechifier. "They planted by 
your care! No, sir: your oppressions planted them 
in America. They fled from your tyranny to a then 
uncultivated and inhospitable country, where they ex- 
posed themselves to all the evils which a wilderness, 
filled with bloodthirsty savages, could threaten. And 
yet, actuated by true English love of liberty, they 
thought all these evils light in comparison with what 
they had suffered in their own country, and from you, 
who ought to have been their friends. 

"They nourished by your indulgence! No, sir! 
they grew by your neglect. As soon as you began 
to indulge them, that boasted indulgence was to send 
them hungry packs of your own creatures, to spy out 
their liberties !— to misrepresent their actions— and to 
prey upon their substance !— Yes, sir, you sent them 
men, whose behaviour has often caused the blood of 
those sons of Liberty to recoil within them— men 




82 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

promoted by you to the highest seats of justice, in 
that country, who, to my knowledge, had good cause 
to dread a court of justice in their own! — They pro- 
tected by your arms! — No, sir! They have nobly 
taken up arms in your defence ; have exerted a most 
heroic valour, amidst their daily labours, for the de- 
fence of a country whose frontier was drenched in 
blood, while its interior parts gave up all their savings 
for our emolument ! " 

All this was very true. For the Americans had 
not only planted, but in a great measure protected 
themselves. In the French and Indian war, from '55 
to '63, they lost nearly 30,000 of their stoutest young 
men. And by regular returns it appears that Mas- 
sachusetts alone expended about 50,000/. sterling in 
that time ! ! ! And moreover, they had never hesitated 
for a moment to furnish to the last man and the last 
shilling whatever Britain had required. 

But, alas ! what signifies right against might ! When 
a king wants money for his own pride, or for his 
hungry relations, and when iiis ministers want stakes 
for their gaming tables, or diamond necklaces for their 
mistresses, they will have it, though plundered colonies 
should lack hread and spelling books for their chil- 
dren. For in the year '63, when the lamp of God 
was burning with peculiar brightness in our land, and 
both Britain and her colonies enjoyed a measure of 
blessings seldom indulged to the most favoured nations 
— when, at the very mention of Old England, our 
hearts leaped for joy, as at the name of a great and 
venerable mother, and that mother felt equal transport 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 83 

at thoughts of us, her flourishing colonies — when all 
the produce of these vast and fertile regions was 
poured into her beloved lap, and she in return, not 
allowing us the trouble to make even a hob-nail, 
heaped our families with all the necessaries and ele- 
gancies of her ingenious artists — when, though far 
separated by an ocean's roar, we were yet so united by 
love and mutual helpfulness, that the souls of Colum- 
bus, Raleigh, and Smith, looking down from Heaven, 
with joy beheld the consummation of all their labours 
and wishes ! At that happy period. Lord North brought 
in a bill to tax the colonies, without allowing us a 
voice in their councils ! ! The colonies were thunder- 
struck: and Britain herself groaning through all her 
islands, " gave signs of woe, that all was lost ! " 

Doctor Franklin, who was then in England as a 
colony agent, on hearing that this most iniquitous bill 
had actually passed both houses, and was ratified by 
the king, wrote to a friend in America in these words — 
" The sun of our liberty is set. You must all now 
light up the double candles of Industry and Economy, 
But, above all things, encourage the young people to 
marry and raise up children as fast as they can." 

Meaning, that America, yet too weak to resist the 
chains which a wicked ministry were forging for her, 
should instantly fly to heaven-ordered marriage, for 
her heroic youth, to rend the ignominious bonds from 
their own and their father's arms. 

But the sons of Columbia, though few in number, 
had too long enjoyed the sweets of Liberty and prop- 
erty to part with them so tamely, because a king and 



84 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

his minions had ordered it. No ! blessed be God, their 
conduct was such as to strike the world with this 
glorious truth, that a brave people, who know their 
rights, are not to be enslaved. 

For, soon as it was told in America, that the stamp 
act had passed, the people rose up against it as one 
man — the old grudges between churchmen and dis- 
senters were instantly forgotten — every man looked to 
his fellow as to a brother for aid against the coming 
slavery — their looks on each other were as lightnings 
in a parched forest — the sacred fire kindled, and ran 
from end to end of the continent. In every colony the 
people rushed into patriotic societies , . . reminded 
each other of their rights . . . denounced the stamp act 
as a most audacious infringement — ^burnt in effigy the 
promoters of it — destroyed the houses of those de- 
generated Americans who had received the stamps 
to sell — and menaced loudly a non-intercourse with 
Britain, if the act was not immediately repealed ! 

This spirited behaviour filled all England with 
amazement. Every man there, no matter what his 
principles or politics, felt it to the ver> quick. The 
manufacturers and merchants trembled; the tories 
raved; the whigs rejoiced, and, with the great Pitt 
and Burke at their head, publicly applauded the Amer- 
icans, and denounced the stamp act as entirely con- 
trary to the spirit of British freedom. In short, the 
cry against it was so loud, both in Englanc] and Amer- 
ica, that the ministry, covered with shame, were 
obliged to give way, and abandon the project. 

The cloud, which had hung so dark over the two 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 85 

countries, being thus happily scattered, many began 
to cherish the hope, that we should have a clear sky 
again, and that the former golden days would soon 
return. But alas! those golden days were gone, to 
return no more! Government had shown the cloven 
foot — and America had taken a fright which nothing 
but whole years of kindliest treatment could ever 
sooth. But, unfortunately, the ministry were in no 
humour to show that kindness. Long accustomed to 
speak of the Americans as a pack of " convicts, whom 
by transportation, they had kindly saved from the 
gallows," instead of giving them credit for their late 
spirited behaviour, they considered it as the height of 
audacity : and though from necessity they had yielded 
to their demands, they were determined to have revenge 
on the first opportunity. That opportunity was too 
soon afforded. 

It should have been stated, that with the duty on 
stamp paper, similar duties had been laid on glass, 
tea, &c. &c., all of which had been repealed with the 
stamp act, except that on tea. This the ministry had 
artfully retained: partly to cover the shame of their 
defeat, but chiefly in hopes of familiarizing the Amer- 
icans with taxation. For though Lord North was 
never, that I know of, charged with being a wizard, 
yet did he not lack sense to know that if he could but 
prevail on the young Mammoth to submit to a tax, 
though as small as a Gnat, he soon should bring him 
to swallow a Camel! But glory to God! the Amer- 
icans had too much of British blood, to allow an un- 
constitutional tax in any shape or size. Independent 



86 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

and coy as the birds of their forests, they would not 
suffer a stranger's hand even to touch the sacred nest 
of their rights. As soon therefore, as the ministry 
began, in 1773, to order '' the collection of taxes on 
tea," the colonies took fire again : and the old flame of 
'53 was completely rekindled throughout the continent. 
But still in the very stomt and tempest of their rage, 
they never lost sight of the respect due their mother 
country. Their numerous letters and petitions to the 
King, to the Parliament, and to the people of Britain, 
all, all, breathe the full spirit of dutiful children, and 
of loving brothers. In terms the most modest and 
pathetic, they state the extreme injustice and bar- 
barity of such measures — their total inconsistency with 
the spirit of the British Constitution — their positive 
inadmissibility into America — or, in that event, the 
certainty of a civil war, with all its fatal effects on 
the two countries. 

Tempered with meekness, and pointed with truth, 
their arguments reach the hearts of the British 
patriots, who all fly in eager myriads to extinguish 
the kindling flames of civil war. Foremast of this 
noble band is seen the venerable form of Chatham. 
Though worn with years and infirmities, he quits his 
bed; and, muffled up in flannels and furs, crawls to 
the house of lords, to give his last advice, and yet 
avert, if possible, the impending ruin. He rises to 
speak. A solemn silence prevails, while the looks 
of the crowded audience are bending forward upon 
him, to catch the accents of his magic tongue. His 
eyes are upon the ground: but his thoughts are not 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 87 

there: they are travelling like sunbeams over all the 
earth. Britain and America, with all their population 
and interests, lie open before his vast mind, with the 
varied evils of the threatened war. In Britain he 
beholds a fearful pause in the pulse of industry and 
joy — the loom is still — the anvil resounds no more — 
while the harbours, late alive with bustling business and 
cheerful songs, now crowded with silent dismantled 
ships, present a scene of national mourning. In the 
colonies he sees the plains, lately crowned with joyful 
harvests, now covered with armed bands of Britons 
and Americans rushing to murderous battle — while in 
Europe, the proud Spaniard, the sarcastic Gaul, and 
broad grinning Hollander, with shrugs and sneers en- 
joy the coming fray, as a welcome prelude to the 
downfall of their hated rival. He next paints the 
Americans as native sons of Britain — and, at once, 
enthusiastic lovers of liberty and of their mother 
country — ready, as her children, to give her every- 
thing; but, as her slaves, nothing. Though harshly 
treated, they still love her, and wish for nothing so 
much as a hearty reconciliation, and a glad return of 
all the former friendships and blessings. At thought 
of this most desirable of all events, the parent soul 
of the great orator is stirred within him, his aged 
frame trembles with strong feeling, which heaves his 
labouring bosom, and swells his changeful face. At 
length his powerful words break forth. 

" For God's sake then, my lords, let the way be 
instantly opened for reconciliation. I say instantly ; 
or it will be too late for ever. The Americans tell 



88 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

you — and remember, it is the language of the whole 
continent — they tell you, they will never submit to 
be taxed without their own consent. They insist on 
a repeal of your laws. They do not ask it as a 
favour. They claim it as a right. They demand it. 
— And I tell you the acts must be repealed. They 
will be repealed. You cannot enforce them. But 
bare repeal will not satisfy this enlightened and spir- 
ited people. What! satisfy them by repealing a bit 
of paper — by repealing a piece of parchment! No! 
you must declare you have no right to tax them. Then 
they may trust you — then they will come into you. 
There are, my lords, three millions of whigs in Amer- 
ica. Three millions of whigs, with arms in their hands, 
are a formidable body! There are, I trust, double 
that number of whigs in England. And I hope the 
whigs in both countries will join and make a common 
cause. They are united by the strongest ties of senti- 
ment and interest; and will therefore, I hope, fly to 
support their brethren. In this most alarming and 
distracted state of our affairs, though borne down by 
a cruel disease, I have crawled to this house, my lords, 
to give you my best advice, which is, to beseech his 
majesty that orders may instantly be dispatched to 
General Gage to remove the troops from Boston. Their 
presence is a source of perpetual irritation and sus- 
picion to those people. How can they trust you, with 
the bayonet at their breasts ? They have all the reason 
in the world to believe that you mean their death or 
slavery. Let us then set to this business in earnest. 
There is no time to be lost. Every moment is big with 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 89 

danger. Nay, while I am now speaking, the decisive 
blow may be struck, and millions involved in the dread- 
ful consequences ! The very first drop of blood that is 
drawn, will make a wound perhaps never to be healed — 
a wound of such rancorous malignity, as will, in all 
probability, mortify the whole body, and hasten, both 
on England and America, that dissolution to which all 
nations are destined." 

Here was a speech, sufficient, one would have 
thought, to stop the career of the maddest politicians. 
— But neither this, nor the advice of Lord Camden, 
nor the numerous and pathetic addresses from Lon- 
don, Liverpool, and Jamaica, could produce the least 
change in the views of the ministry. " Let the Amer- 
icans," said Lord Gower with a sneer, " sit talking 
about their natural rights ! their divine rights ! and 
such stuff! we will send them over a few regiments 
of grenadiers to help their consultations ! " Thus 
high-toned was the language of ministry, and thus 
stoutly bent on the submission of the Americans. In- 
deed, in some instances, they would not honour them 
so far as to give their " humble petitions " a reading ; 
but consigned them to what the whig opposition pleas- 
antly called, " the committee of oblivion." 

The tea-tax was, of course, at any rate to be col- 
lected. But as there could be no tax without tea, nor 
tea unless it was sent, several ships of that obnoxious 
weed were purposely dispatched for America. Lord 
Fairfax happened to be at Mount Vernon when Wash- 
ington received advice from a friend in London that the 
tea-ships were about to sail. ..." Well, my lord," 



90 THE LIFE OF ^YAS^INGTON 

said he. "' and so the ships, with the giin-powder tea, 
are. it seems, oti their way to America ! " 

" Well, but Colonel, why do you call it gunpowder 

tea." 

'• \\'hy, I am afraid, my lord." replied Washington. 
'• it will prove intlanmiable. and produce an explosion 
that will shake both countries." 

The event corresponded with Washington's pre- 
diction. Looked on as sent to insult and enslave 
them, the ships were everywhere received with the 
heartiest curses of the people, who quickly boarded 
them — in some places furiously emptying their fra- 
grant cargoes into the flashing deep ; — in others, sternly- 
ordering the captains to depart, under the penalty of 
being instantly tucked up to the yard arms. 

On the arrival of this news in England, the coun- 
tenance of the minister was dark with fury; and he 
proceeded, without delay, to mix up for the colonies 
a cup of hery indignation, of which Boston, it seems, 
was to have the largest dose. As that most undutiful 
child had always led off the dance in outrage and 
rebellion against the parent state, it was determined 
that she should pay the piper for old and new . . . that 
her purse should answer for all the tea that had been 
destroyed . . . that her luxuriant trade, which had 
made her so wanton, should be taken from her — and, 
that, in spite of her high looks and proud stomach, 
she should sit on the stool of repentance, imtil his 
gracious majesty, George TIL should be pleased to 
pronounce her pardon ! ! 

On the receipt of this intelligence at Boston, the 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 91 

passions of the people flew uj), Ave hundred degrees 
above blood-heat! throughout the continent the fever 
raged with equal fury. The colonies all extolled 
Boston for the firmness with which she had asserted 
her chartered rights. . . . Liberal contributions were 
made for her relief : and this ministerial attack on her 
liberties, was considered as an attack on the liberties 
of the whole, which were now thought to be in such 
danger, as loudly to call for a general congress from 
all the colonies, to deliberate on their common in- 
terest. This most unkingly body commenced its ses- 
sion in Philadelphia, Septenil)er 5th, 1774. They be- 
gan with publishing a bill of rights, wherein they 
repeated " their loyalty and love to the mother coun- 
try, together with an earnest wish for constitutional 
dependence on her. But, at the same time, they begged 
leave to assure her, that though she, in her excessive 
fondness, might suffer herself to be bound and in- 
sulted by North and Bute, and other Philistine lords, 
yet they, for their parts, were resolved, like true sons 
of British Sampsons, to rise and fight to the last locks 
of their heads. They asserted, and begged leave to do 
it pretty roundly too, as it was now high time to speak 
plain, that by the immutable laws of nature — by the 
principles of the British constitution — and by their 
several charters, they had a right to liberty, the liberty 
of British subjects — that their ever honored fathers, 
at the time of their emigration to this country, were 
entitled to all the rights of freemen — and since, by 
such emigration they had neither forfeited nor sur- 
rendered these rights — that they their children, were 



92 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

determined, at the risk of everything short of their 
eternal salvation, to defend and to transmit them entire 
to their innocent and beloved offspring." 

Millions of choice spirits in England, Scotland, and 
Ireland, cried out " that's well said ! and may God's 
arms strike with our American brethren ! " This was 
coming to the point, and produced the effect that might 
have been expected. For, instantly all exportation of 
arms and ammunition to America was prohibited — 
large reinforcements were sent to the king's troops at 
Boston — and every step was taken to compel the col- 
onies to submission. This filled up the measure of 
American hatred to the ministry, and called forth the 
most vigorous preparations for war. Every ounce of 
gunpowder was husbanded like so much gold-dust. 
Powder-mills and musket-manufactories were erected 
in most of the colonies ; while others, not liking this 
slow way of doing things, laid violent hands at once 
upon all the king's arms and ammunition that could 
be found. 

The tremendous cloud of civil war was now ready 
to burst: and April the 19th, 1775, was the fatal day 
marked out by mysterious heaven, for tearing away 
the stout infant colonies from the long-loved paps of 
the old mother country. Early that morning, General 
Gage, whose force in Boston was augmented to 10,000 
men, sent a detachment of 1000 to destroy some mili- 
tary stores which the Americans had collected in the 
town of Concord, near Lexington. On coming to the 
place, they found the town militia assembled on the 
green near the road. " Throw down your arms, and 




BATTLE OF LEXINGTON 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 93 

disperse, you rebels," was the cry of Pitcairn, the 
British officer; which was immediately followed by a 
general discharge of the soldiers; whereby eight of the 
Americans were killed, and several wounded. The 
provincials retired. But finding that the British still 
continued their fire, they returned it with good interest; 
and soon strewed the green with the dead and wounded. 
Such fierce discharges of musketry produced the effect 
that might have been expected in a land of freemen, 
who saw their gallant brothers suddenly engaged in 
the strife of death. Neyer before had the bosoms of 
the swains experienced such a tumult of heroic pas- 
sions. Then throwing aside the implements of hus- 
bandry, and leaving their teams in the half-finished 
furrows, they flew to their houses ; snatched up their 
arms ; and bursting from their wild shrieking wives and 
children, hasted to the glorious field, where liberty, 
heaven-born goddess, was to be bought for blood. 
Pouring in now from every quarter, were seen crowds 
of sturdy peasants, with flushed cheeks and flaming 
eyes, eager for battle ! Even age itself forgot its 
wonted infirmities : and hands, long palsied with years, 
threw aside the cushioned crutch, and grasped the 
deadly firelock. Fast as they came up, their ready 
muskets began to pour the long red streams of fiery 
vengeance. The enemy fell back, appalled ! The 
shouting farmers, swift closing on their rear, followed 
their steps with death, while the British, as fast as 
they could load, wheeling on their pursuers, returned 
the deadly platoons. Like some tremendous whirl- 
wind, whose roaring sweep all at once darkens the 



94 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

day, riding the air in tempests ; so sudden and terrible, 
amidst clouds of dust, and smoke, and flame, the flight 
of Britain's warriors thundered along the road. But 
their flight was not in safety. Every step of their 
retreat was stained with the trickling crimson. Every 
hedge or fence by which they passed, took large toll 
of hostile carcasses. They would, in all probability, 
have been cut off to a man, had not General Gage 
luckily recollected that, born of Britons, these Yankees 
might possess some of the family valour ; and there- 
fore sent looo men to support the detachment. This 
reinforcement met the poor fellows, faint with fear 
and fatigue, and brought them safely off to Boston. 

In this, their first field, the American farmers 
gleaned of the British about sixty-three, in slain, and 
two hundred and eighty wounded and prisoners. The 
fire of civil discord now broke out a roaring flame : and, 
with equal ardour, both parties hastened to clap on the 
"kettle of war." 

National prejudices ought to be scouted from the 
face of the earth. Colonel Grant actually said in 
parliament, that " with five regiments he could march 
through all America ! ! ! " Oh ! had that profound 
philosopher but beheld the scrub race above, he might 
have learned two things — first, that he was never born 
to be a prophet. And secondly, that as it is not to 
this or that country exclusively, that we are to look for 
brave men, but in every country where the people are 
accustomed to breathe the proud air of liberty, and to 
rejoice in the sweet fruits of their labours as all their 
own. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 95 

Soon as the battle of Lexington was told to the 
astonished ministry in England, a grand caucus of 
lords was held, to consider the best ways and means 
to bring the rebels to their senses. " One spoke after 
this manner, and another after that. Presently up 
rose Lord George Germaine, and with all Moloch in 
his looks, hurled the curses of Amalek against the 
Americans. " Vengeance ! gentlemen ! " he cried, 
" vengeance ! your insulted island — your wounded 
honour — your murdered countrymen — all cry havoc ! 
and bid slip the dogs of war. Gods! can we sit de- 
bating here, when rank rebellion lords it over our 
colonies, and the tongues of rebel curs are red in the 
blood of our bravest soldiers slain. No! let our swift- 
avenging armies fly across the ocean, and lighting like 
a tornado on the rebel continent, from end to end, 
with fire and sword sweep both town and country 
before them." 

Here the celebrated Mr. Wilkes, in the spirit of a 
true Briton, roared out : " Aye, that's right ! that's 
right ! Lord George ! that's exactly according to our 
old English proverb — the greater the coward, the 
crueller the devil ! " 

" Coward ! Sir ! " replied Lord George, black with 
rage. " Coward! what do you mean by that, sir? " 

" I mean, sir," returned Mr. Wilkes, " that the 
hero who could not stand fire on the plains of Minden. 
does well to advise fire and sword in the woods of 
America." 

Upon this, the unlovely names of liar and scoun- 
drel were exchanged with a freedom which showed 



96 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

that in the quarrel with America the passions of the 
two parties knew no bounds. Happily for America, 
this spirit of Mr. Wilkes was not peculiar to him- 
self. Thousands of enlightened and virtuous whigs 
breathed it with equal ardour. The gallant duke of 
Buckingham, on hearing how bravely the Americans 
had behaved at Lexington, exclaimed, " Well, thank 
God ! there are yet some veins in the world that beat 
high with British blood ! " 

Lord Effingham, also, being required to take up 
arms against the Americans, returned his sword to 
the king, saying, " he had received it on oath, to main- 
tain the cause of justice, not of oppression!!" 

But though the right heads in England were nu- 
merous, they were not sufficiently so to direct the 
wrong heads. A feeble minister, and his puny lord- 
lings, still held the reins: and though, compared with 
the great nation which they governed, they seemed but 
as monkeys on the back of a mammoth, yet they had, 
too long, the fatal art so to blindfold and goad the 
noble animal, as to make her run riot over her own 
children, and crush thousands of them into their bloody 
graves. 

On this day, June 12, 1775, General Gage issued 
his proclamation of rebellion, with threats of heaviest 
vengeance against the rebels; extending, however, in 
the king's name, the golden sceptre of mercy to all 
true penitents, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, 
excepted. These gentlemen, by their extraordinary 
zeal in the cause of liberty, had so mortally offended 
the ministry, that nothing short of their lives could 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 97 

make atonement. Orders were sent privately to Gen- 
eral Gage, to seize and hang them in Boston, or to send 
them over in irons to be hung in England. But God 
gave his angels charge of them, so that not a hair of 
their heads was hurt. 

The British, 10,000 strong, were still in Boston, 
where, ever since the affair of Concord, they had been 
surrounded by an army of 20,000 provincials, all so 
eager to take the city by storm, that it was with the 
greatest difficulty their officers could restrain them. 

How adorable the goodness of God for ordering 
that the ministerial attack on our liberties, should fall 
on the populous and high-toned New-Englanders ! The 
heroic spirit with which they repelled it, should to 
eternity, endear them to their southern brethren. 



CHAPTER IX 

Battle of Bunker's Hill— of Sullivan's Island— Declaration of 
Independence — Defeat of the Americans on Long Island — 
Howe threatens violently — Times squally. 

And fame of Bunker's hill endure. 

Till time itself shall be no more. 

This hill of fame still lifts its yellow brow, half 
hid in sedge, on the plains of Charlestown — a lovely 
port north of Boston, to which it is united by an ele- 
gant bridge. To confine the British as closely as 
possible to Boston, the American generals, on the 
night of June i6, despatched 1500 men to throw up 
an entrenchment on Bunker's Hill. The party did 
not begin their work till about 12 o'clock ; but ex- 
erted such a spirit, that, by day-break, they had sur- 
rounded themselves with a tolerably decent ditch — 
without embrasures indeed, because they had no can- 
non to stare through them; nor even a bayonet to 
bristle over its ridges. 

Soon as the rosy morn appeared, they were dis- 
covered by the British men of war, which quickly 
saluted them with their great guns and mortars. But, 
regardless of shells and shot, the dauntless Yankees 
still drank their Switchel * and plied their work. 

*A mild and moralizing malmsey, made of molasses and 
water, which the prudent Yankees drink, to the great benefit 
of their health and senses, while too many of their southern 
neighbours are be-fooling and be-poisoning themselves with 
grog. 

98 




BATTLE OF BLN'KER's HILL 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 99 

Finding that his ships of war, with all their thun- 
ders, had not been able to dislodge them, Gage ordered 
to their aid 3000 men with a train of artilleiy, under 
command of Generals Howe and Pigot. By twelve 
o'clock they were all safely landed on the Charlestown 
side, near Bunker's Hill, the destined place of storm. 
An interesting scene is now about to open — for not 
only the British and American armies from the neigh- 
bouring heights, are eagerly looking on ; but all the 
surrounding country, timely alarmed, are running to- 
gether, in terror, to behold the coming fight. Among 
the crowding spectators are seen thousands of tender 
fem^ales, with panting bosoms and watery eyes, fixed 
upon the fields below, anxiously waiting the fate of 
their brothers, fathers, and husbands. After a hurried 
moment spent in forming, the British troops began 
to advance in heavy columns, with all the martial 
pomp of flying colours and rattling drums. At the 
same time, by order of Gage, the beautiful port of 
Charlestown, of 300 fine buildings, with a tall steepled 
church, was wrapped in flames, roaring like distant 
thunder, and tossed on eddying winds in fiery billows 
to the clouds — while, far and wide, the adjoining plains 
are covered with British soldiers in crimson regimentals 
and shining arms, moving on the attack with inces- 
sant discharges of muskets and great guns. Close, 
on the brow of the hill, appears the little fort, dimly 
seen through smoke, and waved over by one solitary 
flag, and very unlike to stand the shock of so powerful 
an armament. But the Americans are all wound up 
to the height of the enthusiasm of Liberty: and, lying 
close behind their works, with fowling pieces loaded 



100 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

with ball and buckshot, wait impatiently for the ap- 
proaching enemy. Their brave countrymen, Putnam 
and Warren, are in the fort, constantly reminding 
them of that glorious inheritance, Liberty, which they 
received from their gallant fathers, and now owe to 
their own dear children. " Don't throw away a single 
shot, my brave fellows," said old Putnam. " Don't 
throw away a single shot; but take good aim: nor 
touch a trigger, till you can see the whites of their 
eyes." 

This steady reserve of fire, even after the British 
had come up within pistol-shot, led them to hope that 
the Americans did not mean to resist, and many of 
their friends on the heights had nearly given up all for 
lost. But as soon as the enemy were advanced within 
the fatal distance marked, all at once a thousand trig- 
gers were drawn : and a .sheet of fire, wide as the 
whole front of the breastwork, bursted upon them 
with most ruinous effect. The British instantly came 
to a halt — still keeping up their fire — but altogether at 
random and ineffectual, like men in a panic. While 
full exposed, within point-blank shot, ranks on ranks 
fell before the American marksmen, as the heavy- 
cared corn before the devouring hail storm, when with 
whirlwind rage it smites the trembling earth, and rushes 
on, smoking and roaring through the desolated fields. 
The enemy still maintained their ground like Britons, 
though all in front was nothing but one wide destruc- 
tive flash ; and nought around but heaps of their shriek- 
ing, dying comrades. But in a few minutes the 
slaughter became so general, that they could stand it 
no longer, but broke and fled in the utmost disorder, 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 101 

to the shore side ; and some even took refuge in their 
boats ! Their officers with some difficulty brought them 
back to a second charge, when the Americans, waiting 
till they had come up within a few rods of the fort, 
recommenced their fire, with a mortality which broke 
and drove them again. Some of the officers attempted 
to bring them on a third time, but others cried out, 
"that it was no better than murder! " It is probable 
they would hardly have made another effort, had not 
the Generals Clinton and Burgoyne, spectators of their 
defeat, hastened over from Boston with fresh troops 
to their aid. 

The Americans, being nearly destitute of ammuni- 
tion, and attacked by such superior force, were obliged 
to retreat, which they did in tolerable order, but not 
till they had given the enemy, as they mounted the 
works, their last cartridges, and to some of them the 
buts of their guns — for want of bayonets. The British, 
'tis true, by such great advantage of numbers and 
weapons, gained the day; but sung no te deum. To 
have given 1350 men killed and wounded, for a poor 
ditch of 12 hours' labour, seemed to them a bargain 
hardly worth thanking God for. 

Among the Heroes whom this day immolated on 
the altar of Patriotism, was Dr. Joseph Warren, whose 
memory will be held sacred as long as gratitude or 
honour live among men. The British lost Major Pit- 
cairn, author of the murders at Lexington, a few weeks 
before ! 

During the autumn and winter of 1775, Washing- 
ton could effect nothing against the British, but to 
hold them close confined in Boston, where the scurvy 



102 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

prevailed, and proved very fatal. To remedy this evil, 
immense quantities of livestock and vegetables were 
shipped from Britain — 5,000 fat oxen ; 14,000 sheep^ — 
12,000 hogs, with 22,000 pounds sterling worth of 
sour-crout ! ! ! And nearly the same amount in hay, 
oats and beans, for a single regiment of cavalry!! 
'* Blessed are the meek ! " for they shall save a world 
of expense. 

In consequence of some disturbances this year, in 
South Carolina, in favour of the ministry, Sir Peter 
Parker was dispatched with nine ships of war, and 
a large land force, commanded by Clinton and Corn- 
wallis, to make an attempt on Charleston, the capital. 
Before the ships could be brought to pay their respects 
to the town, they must, it seems, pass a little fort on 
Sullivan's Island. This, however, being defended only 
by raw militia, was hardly looked on as an obstacle. 
Happily for America, the command of the fort had 
been committed to General Moultrie ; for the chief in 
command. Gen. Charles Lee, though otherwise brave, 
was ever in the frights at the thought of a British 
man of war; and for a general, much too free in 
lending his fear to others. For, while Moultrie was 
showing him the fort, and in the language of a fiery 
patriot was boasting what handsome resistance he 
hoped it would make ; Lee with infinite scorn replied, 
" Pshaw ! a mere slaughter house ! a mere slaughter 
house ! a British man of war will knock it about your 
ears in half an hour ! " He even proposed to abandon 
the fort! The courage of one man saved Charleston, 
and perhaps the State. That fortunate man was John 
Rutledge, Esq., governor of South Carolina. He in- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 103 

sisted that the fort should be defended to the last 
extremity. Moultrie was called in. " Well, General 
Moultrie," said Gov. Rutledge, " what do you think 
of giving up the fort ! " Moultrie could scarcely sup- 
press his indignation. " No man, sir," said he to Lee, 
" can have a higher opinion of the British ships and 
seamen than I have. But there are others who love 
the smell of gunpowder as well as they do ; and give 
us but plenty of powder and ball, sir, and let them 
come on as soon as they please." His courage was 
quickly put to the test; for about lo o'clock, on the 
28th of June, in the glorious 1776, Sir Peter Parker, 
with seven tall ships formed his line, and bearing down 
within point-blank shot of the fort, let go his anchors 
and began a tremendous fire. At every thundering 
blast he fondly hoped to see the militia take to the 
sands like frightened rats from an old barn on fire. 
But, widely different from his hopes, the militia stood 
their ground, firm as the Black-jacks of their land; 
and levelling their four-and-twenty pounders with good 
aim, bored the old hearts of oak through and through 
at every fire. Their third broadside carried away the 
springs on the cables of the commodore's ship, which 
immediately swung around right stern upon the guns 
of the fort — "Hurra! my sons of thunder," was in- 
stantly the cry along the American battery, " look hand- 
somely to the commodore ! now my boys, for your 
best respects to the commodore ! " Little did the com- 
modore thank them for such respects ; for in a short 
time he had 60 of his brave crew lying lifeless on 
his decks, and his cockpit stowed with the wounded. 
At one period of the action, the quarter-deck was 



104 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

cleared of every soul, except Sir Peter himself. Nor 
was he entirely excused ; for an honest cannon ball, 
by way of broad hint that it was out of character for 
a Briton to tight against liberty, rudely snatched away 
the bag of his silk breeches. Thus Sir Peter had the 
honour to be the first, and I believe the only Sans 
Culotte ever heard of in American natural history ! ! 

The Americans stood the fire like Salamanders; 
for the neighbouring shores were lined with thousands 
of their dearest relatives, anxiously looking on ! the 
British tars, poor fellows! had no sisters, mothers, 
nor wives, spectators of their strife ; but fought, not- 
withstanding, with their wonted heroism. Long ac- 
customed to mastery in battles with the French, and 
greatly out-numbering the fort both in men and gims, 
they counted on certain victory ; and though dreadfully 
handled, scorned to yield. Immense were the exertions 
on both sides; and while the powder of the fort lasted, 
the conflict was awfully grand — From ships to fort, 
and from fort to ships again, all below seemed one 
stream of solid fire; all above, one vast mountain of 
smoke darkening the day, while unintermitted bursts 
of thunder deafened all ears, and far around shook 
both land and sea. 

The heroes in the fort won immortal honour. One 
brave fellow, a Sergeant Jasper, observing the flag- 
staff shot away, jumped down from the fort on the 
beach, in the hottest fury of the battle, and snatching 
up the tlag. returned it to its place, streaming defi- 
ance, with a—*' Hurra, my boys, liberty and America 
forever." Governor Rutledge rewanled him with a 
sword. Another Sergeant. JSPDonald, while roaring 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 105 

away with his 24 pounder, was terribly shattered by 
a cannon ball. When about to expire, he lifted up 
his dying eyes and said — " My brave countrymen, I 
die; but don't let the cause of Liberty die with me." 
Now louder and louder still, peal on peal, the Amer- 
ican thunder burst forth with earth-trembling crashes : 
and the British ships, after a long and gallant struggle, 
hauled off with a good fortnight's worth of work for 
surgeons, carpenters and riggers. 

Sir Peter was so dumbfounded by this drubbing, 
that it took him full eight-and-forty hours to recover 
his stomach for his beef and pudding. So wonderfully 
had it let him down, that even his black pilots grew 
impudent upon him. For as he was going out over 
the bar, he called to Cud jo (a black fellow, a pilot 
who was sounding the depth of the water) — " Cud jo! 
(says he) what water have you got there?" 

" What water, massa ? what water ? why salt water, 
be sure, sir? — sea water alway salt water, an't he, 
massa? " 

" You black rascal, I knew it was salt water. I 
only wanted to know how much water you have 
there?" 

"How much water here, massa? how much water 
here ! God bless me, massa ! where I going get quart 
pot for measure him? " 

This was right down impudence ; and Cud jo richly 
deserved a rope's end for it; but Sir Peter, a good 
natured man, was so tickled with the idea of measur- 
ing the Atlantic ocean with a quart pot, that he broke 
into a hearty laugh, and ordered Cudjo a stiff drink 
of grog. 



106 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

'Twas the celebrated Samuel Chase, the Demos- 
thenes of Maryland, who first taught the startled 
vaults of Congress hall to re-echo the name of Inde- 
pendence. After enumerating many a glaring in- 
stance of ministerial violation of American rights — 
on all of which George III., the expected father of 
his people, had looked with a most unfatherly calm- 
ness — ^his countenance became like the dark stormy 
cloud edged with lightning— then swinging his arm 
in the air, with a tremendous stamp and voice of 
thunder, that made the hollow dome resound, he 
swore — a mighty oath, " that he owned no allegiance 
to the king of England ! " 

Many in Congress trembled at hearing such a 
speech ; and, on mention of Independence, felt the 
pang which nature feels when soul and body are part- 
ing. But fearing that " true friendship could never 
grow again, where wounds of deadly hate had pierced 
so deep," they at length resolved to part. The gentle- 
men appointed by Congress to frame the declaration 
of Independence, were Thomas Jefferson, John 
Adams, Dr. Franklin, R. Sherman and R. Livings- 
ton. On hearing their nomination to a task so high 
and arduous, they met; and after some conversation on 
the subject, parted, under the agreement that each of 
their number should draft his own declaration, and 
read it next day, in rotation to the rest. At the fixed 
hour next day, they met — but " who should read first," 
was the question. Mr. Jefferson was fixed on; and, 
after much importunity, consented to read his form, 
which had the honour to give such complete satisfac- 
tion, that none other was read. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 107 

A few days after this, Lord Howe came upon the 
coast with a forest of men of war and transports, 
shading far and wide the frightened ocean, and bearing 
nearly 40,000 men, British, Hessians, and Waldeckers. 
Supposing that this had intimidated the American com- 
mander. Lord Howe wrote a letter to him, directed — 
" George Washington, Esq." This the general refused 
to receive ! looking on it as an insult to Congress under 
whom he had the honour to bear the commission of 
Commander in Chief, and should have been addressed 
as such. General Howe then sent an officer (Colonel 
Patterson) to converse Vv'ith him on the subject of 
reconciliation — Having heard what he had to say, 
Washington replied, " by what has yet appeared, sir, 
you have no power but to grant pardons. But we who 
have committed no faults, want no pardons; for we 
are only fighting for our rights as the descendants of 
Englishmen." 

The unfortunate defeat of Long-Island now took 
place on August 28th, which though the hottest day 
in the year, had like to have been the freezing point 
in the American affairs. For on this day, the British, 
with an infinite superiority of force, after having de- 
feated the Americans with great loss, were investing 
the slender remains of their army; and had actually 
broke ground within six hundred yards of the little 
redoubt that feebly covered their front. Soon as it 
was dark, Washington ordered the troops to convey 
their baggage and artillery to the water side, whence 
it was transported over a broad ferry all night long, 
with amazing silence and order. Providentially a 
thick fog continued next morning till ten o'clock; 



108 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

when that passed away, and the sun broke out, the 
British were equally surprised and enraged to see the 
rear guard with the last of the baggage in their boats, 
and out of all danger. 

Lord Howe, supposing that such a run of misfor- 
tunes must have put congress into a good humour to 
think about peace, signified a willingness to have a 
grand talk on the subject. Congress sent Dr. Franklin, 
Mr. Adams, and Mr. Rutledge. each with his belt of 
wampum. But finding that his lordship was still harp- 
ing on the old string, pardons ! pardons ! they very soon 
closed the conference. 

Towards the close of the trying campaign, it is a 
fact, that Washington had not 3000 men; and even 
these were so destitute of necessaries, that nothing 
but their love and veneration for him kept them to- 
gether. And with this handful he had to oppose a 
victorious army, of nearly forty thousand veterans!! 
But Jehovah, the God of Hosts, was with him: and 
oft' times, in the ear of the slumbering hero, his voice 
was heard, " fear not ; for I am with thee. Be not 
dismayed ; for I am thy God."— Hence under all the 
disheartening circumstances of this campaign, Wash- 
ington not only kept up his own spirits, but cheered 
those of his drooping comrades. Hearing his officers 
one day talk about the gloominess of the American 
affairs, he humorously clasped his neck with his hands, 
and said with a smile, " I really cannot believe yet, that 
my neck was ever made for a halter ! " 

For four months during the summer and fall of 
1776. the Americans were obliged to retreat before 
the enemy, who completely over-ran the Jerseys, filling 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 109 

every town and hamlet with their victorious troops — 
During their pursuit through the Jerseys, the behaviour 
of the Hessians towards the country people was bar- 
barous in the extreme. To make them fight the better, 
it seems that they had been told that the Americans, 
against whom they were warring, were not (like the 
Europeans) Christians and gentlemen, but mere sav- 
ages, a race of Cannibals, who would not only toma- 
hawk a poor Hessian, and haul off his hide for a drum's 
head, but would just as leave barbacue and eat him as 
they would a pig. " Vat ! Vat ! " cried the Waldeckers, 
with eyes staring wild and big as billiard balls, " Vat! 
eat Hessian man up like vun hog ! Oh mine God and 
Vader! vot peoples ever been heard of eat Christian 
man before! Vy, shure, des Mericans must be de 
deble." 

This was Hessian logic: and it inspired them with 
the utmost abhorrence of the Americans, to whom 
they thought the worst treatment much too good — 
they burnt houses — destroyed furniture — killed the 
stock — abused the women I and spread consternation 
and ruin along all their march. 

To save their families from such horrid tragedies, 
the Americans flocked in by thousands to General 
Howe, to take the oath of allegiance. And the best 
judges were of opinion, that this alarming apostacy 
would soon become general throughout the two great 
states of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey! And indeed 
no wonder; for to most people it appeared that the 
cause of liberty was a gone cause. But, still firm as 
the iron rudder-bands that maintain the course of the 
ship in her trembling flight over raging seas, so firmly 



no rui: uvi: ov Washington 

dki \\\u>hinj:ton cItMvo to his cv»utUryiuen. and cover 
their retrtat. 

Thev had been obliged to retreat from Long Island 
to New- York, from New- York, over the Hudson, to 
New-Jersey, and now over the Delaware, to Tennsyl- 
vania. *' My God ! General Washington, how long 
sthall we retreat?" said General Reed, "where shall 
we stop?"' "Why sir." replied Washington, "it we 
can do no better, we'll retreat over every river in 
America ; and last of all over the mountains, wheitce 
we shall never lack op^xirtunities to annoy, and tinally, 
I hope, to expel the enemies of our country." 

Bxit. God be thanked, our toils and trials were not 
to be pushed to such s;ul extremities : tor «.KM\oral 
Howe, having driven the Americans to the westent 
side of the Delaware, stationed 4000 men in Trenton, 
Borvlentown. and Burlington, on its eastern bank ; and 
then returned with th.* main anny to eat their winter 
puddings in Bnmswick and New-York. Here Wash- 
ington, with joy. tirst discovered an opportunity to 
make a blow. Not doubting, but that such a long run 
of success had taught the enemy to think very highly 
of themselves, and as meanly of the Americans; and 
suspecting, too. that at Christmas, which was close at 
hand, instead of watching and praying like good Chris- 
tians, they would, very likely, be drinking and hopping 
like fools, he detemiined then and there if ix>ssible to 
break up their winter quarters. To this end he broke 
his little remnant of an anny into three divisions: 
two of which he committed to Generals Ewing and 
Cadwallader to attack at Bordentown and Tuirlington. 
The third he meant to lead in person to the heavier 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 111 

charge on Trenton. Every thing being in readiness by 
Christmas night, as soon as it was dark, they struck 
their tents, and moved off in high spirits, once more to 
try their fortune against an enemy long victorious. 
But alas! the enthusiasm of the gallant Cadwallader 
and Ewing was soon arrested ; for on arriving at the 
river, they found it so filled with ice, as to preclude 
all possibility of crossing. Thus, to their inexpressible 
grief, was blasted the ardent wish to aid their beloved 
chief in this his last bold attempt to save America. 
Ignorant of the failure of two-thirds of his plan, 
Washington and his little forlorn hope, pressed on 
through the darksome night, pelted by an incessant 
storm of hail and snow. On approaching the river, 
nine miles above Trenton, they heard the unwelcome 
roar of ice, loud crashing along the angry flood. But 
the object before them was too vast to allow one thought 
about difficulties. The troops were instantly embarked, 
and after five hours of infinite toil and danger, landed, 
some of them frost-bitten, on the same shores with 
the enemy. Forming the line, they renewed their 
march. Pale, and slowly moving along the neigh- 
bouring hills was seen (by Fancy's eye) the weeping 
genius of Liberty. Driven from the rest of the world, 
she had fled to the wild woods of America, as to an 

assured asylum of rest. Here she fondly hoped, 

through long unfailing time, to see her children pur- 
suing their cheerful toils, unstarved and uncrushed by 
the inhuman few. But alas ! the inhuman few, with 
fleets and armies, had pursued her flight! Her sons 
had gathered around her, but they had failed — some, 
on their bloody beds; others dispersed; all desponding. 



112 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

One little band alone remained! and, now, resolved 
to defend her or perish, were in rapid march to face 
her foes. Pale and in tears, with eyes often lifted to 
Heaven, she moved along with her children to witness 
perhaps the last conflict. 

The Sun had just tipped with gold the adjacent 
hills, when snowy Trenton, with the wide-tented fields 
of the foe, hove in sight. To the young in arms this 
was an awful scene: and Nature called a short-lived 
terror to their hearts. But not unseen of Washington 
was their fear. He marked the sudden paleness of 
their cheeks, when first they beheld the enemy, and 
quick, with half -stifled sighs, turned on him their 
wistful looks. As the big lion of Zara, calling his 
brindled sons to battle against the mighty rhinoceros, 
if he mark their falling manes, and sees them crouch- 
ing to his side, instantly puts on all his terrors — his 
eyes roll in blood — he shakes the forest with the deep- 
ening roar, till, kindled by their father's fire, the 
maddening cubs swell with answering rage, and spring 
undaunted on the monster. Thus stately and terrible 
rode Columbia's first and greatest son, along the front 
of his halting troops. The eager wish for battle flushed 
over his burning face, as, rising on his stirrups, he 
waved his sword towards the hostile camp, and ex- 
claimed, " There ! my brave friends ! there are the 
enemies of your country! and now, all I ask of you, 
is, just to remember what you are about to fight for. 
March ! " His looks and voice rekindled all their 
fire, and drove them undaunted to the charge. The 
enemy saw their danger when it was too late ! but, as 
if resolved by taxing their courage, to pay for their 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 113 

carelessness, they roused the thunder of their drums, 
and flew to arms. But before they could form, the 
Americans, led on by Washington, advanced upon them 
in a stream of lightning, which soon decided the con- 
test. By the musket of the intrepid Captain (now 
General) Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, fell Col. 
Rahl, a brave German who commanded the enemy. 
The ghosts of forty of his countrymen accompanied 
him; and very nearly one thousand were made pris- 
oners. Five hundred British horse effected their escape 
to Bordentown. Could Ewing and Cadwallader have 
crossed the river, agreeably to Washington's plan, the 
enemy's whole line of cantonments would have been 
completely swept ! ! 

To rouse his desponding countrymen Washington 
immediately marched down to Philadelphia, and made 
triumphal entry with his prisoners, preceded by their 
cannon and colours, and wagons, bristling with muskets 
and bayonets. The poor tories could scarcely believe 
their own eyes. Many of the whigs wept for joy. 

To remove from the minds of the Hessians, their 
ill-grounded dread of the Americans, Washington took 
great care, from the moment they fell into his hands, 
to have them treated with the utmost tenderness and 
generosity. He contrived that the wealthy Dutch 
farmers should come in from the country and converse 
with them. They seemed very agreeably surprised 
at such friendly attentions. The Dutchmen at length 
proposed to them to quit the British service and become 
farmers. — At this the Hessians paused a little and 
said something about parting with their country. 

" Your country ! " said the farmers. " Poor fel- 
8 



114 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

lows ! where is your country ? You have no country. 
To support his pomps and pleasures your prince has 
torn you from your country, and for 30/. a-head sold 
you like slaves to fight against us, who never troubled 
you. Then leave the vile employment and come live 
with us. Our lands are rich. Come help us to cul- 
tivate them. Our tables are covered with fat meats, 
and with milk and honey. Come sit down and eat with 
us like brothers. Our daughters are young and beau- 
tiful and good. Then shew yourselves worthy, and 
you shall have our daughters: and we will give you 
of our lands and cattle, that you may work, and be- 
come rich and happy as we are. You were told that 
General Washington and the Americans were savages 
and would devour you ! But from the moment you 
threw down your arms, have they not been as kind 
to you as you had any right to expect? " 

" O yes ! " cried they, " and a thousand times 
more kind than we deserved. We were told the Amer- 
icans would show us no pity, and so we were cruel to 
them. But we are sorry for it now, since they have 
been so good to us: and now we love the Americans, 
and will never fight against them any more ! " 

Such was the effect of Washington's policy ; the 
divine policy of doing good for evil. It melted down 
his iron enemies into golden friends. It caused the 
Hessian soldiers to join with the American farmers! 
— not only so, but to write such letters to their country- 
men, that they were constantly breaking loose from 
the British to run over to the Americans — insomuch 
that in a little time the British would hardly trust a 
Hessian to stand sentinel! 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 115 

Though this victory was gained on the 26th of 
December, yet we find Washington again, on the ist 
of January, across the angry Delaware, with his coun- 
try's flag bold waving over the heights of Trenton. 
Lord Cornwallis advanced in great force to attack 
him. The Americans retreated through the town, 
and crossing the Sanpink (a creek that runs along its 
eastern side) planted their cannon near the ford, to 
defend its passage. The British army following, close 
in their rear, entered the town about four o'clock; 
and a heavy cannonade commenced between the two 
armies, which were separated only by the Sanpink 
and its narrow valley. " Now, sir ! " said Sir William 
Erskine to Cornwallis, " now is the time to make sure 
of Washington." 

" Oh no ! " replied Cornwallis, " our troops have 
marched a good way to-day and are tired. And the 
old fox can't make his escape ; for, with the help of 
the Delaware now filled up with ice, we have com- 
pletely surrounded him. To-morrow morning, fresh 
and fasting we'll fall upon him, and take him and his 
ragamuffins all at once ! " 

"Ah! my lord! " returned Sir William, " if Wash- 
ington be the soldier that I fear he is, you'll not see him 
there to-morrow morning ! " 

Night coming on, the artillery ceased to roar; and 
lighting up their fires, both armies proceeded to sup- 
per and to sleep. About midnight, having renewed 
all the fires, Washington put his little army in motion, 
and passing along the enemy's rear, hasted to surprise 
a large body of their troops at Princeton. Soon as it 
was day Cornwallis was greatly mortified to find there 



116 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

was no American army on the banks of the Sanpink. 
" That's exactly what I feared," said Sir William, 
Just as they were in deep thought on the matter, they 
heard the roar of Washington's cannon at Princeton. 
" There," continued Sir William, " there is Washing- 
ton now, cutting up our troops." And so it was ; for 
on arriving at Princeton, about sunrise, Washington 
met three British regiments, who had just struck their 
tents, and were coming on in high spirits to attack him 
at Trenton. In a moment, both parties attacked like 
heroes. At the first onset the Americans gave way; 
but sensible that all was at stake, Washington snatched 
a standard, and advancing on the enemy, called to his 
countrymen to follow : his countrymen heard, and 
rushed on to the charge. Then flash and clash went 
the muskets and bayonets. Here the servants of George, 
and there the sons of liberty, wrapped in clouds and 
flames, and inflicting mutual wounds. 

" God save the king ! " the British heroes cried, 

" And God for Washington ! " Columbia's sons replied. 

The name of Washington imparted its usual anima- 
tion to his troops. The enemy gave way in all quarters, 
and were pursued four miles. The victors returned 
with 400 prisoners; the bayonet had stopped 120 on 
the field. But they fell not alone. The gallant Mercer, 
and sixty-three of his brave countrymen sleep with 
them. But the strife of the heroes was but for a 
moment; and they have forgotten their wounds. To- 
gether now, they feast in Paradise, and when meet 
their eyes of love, their joys are not dashed by the 
remembrance of the past. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 117 

The British officers gave Washington full credit 
for such fine strokes of generalship, and began to 
look thoughtful whenever his name was mentioned. 

The enemy on the 15th of January drew in all 
their forces to winter-quarters at Brunswick, where 
Washington continued to thin their numbers by cut- 
ting off their foraging parties ; so that every load of 
hay, or dish of turnips they got, was at the price of 
their lives. 

Thus gloriously, in ten days, was turned the tide 
of victory in favour of America, by him whom Heaven, 
in mercy not to America alone, but to Britain, and to 
the world, had raised up to found here a wide empire 
of liberty and virtue. The character of Washington 
was exalted to the highest pitch, even throughout 
Europe, where he was generally styled the American 
Fabius, from the famous Roman general of that name, 
who opposed Hannibal with success. A distinction to 
which he was justly entitled, from the invincible firm- 
ness with which he rejected every finesse of the British 
generals ; as also, that admirable judgment with which 
he suited the defence of the nation to the genius and 
abilities of the people, and to the natural advantages 
of the country, thereby not allowing the enemy to 
profit by their great superiority of numbers, discipline, 
and artillery, and constantly cutting them off by skir- 
mishes and surprise. 

The ministerial plan for 1777, was to reduce the 
Americans, by intercepting all communications between 
the northern and southern states ! To effect this object 
General Howe, with 20 thousand men, was to go 
round from New York to the Head of Elk, and thence 



118 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

march on, due north, through Philadelphia ; while Gen- 
eral Burgoyne, with 10,000 men, setting out from 
Canada, was to pass down the lakes, and thence due 
south to meet his colleague Howe ; the straight line, 
formed by the junction of these two gentlemen, was 
to possess such virtues, that it was supposed no Amer- 
ican could be found hardy enough to set foot over it ! ! 

Accordingly, July 23, General Howe left Sandy 
Hook ; sailed up the Chesapeake ; landed at the mouth 
of Elk River, and wath but little interruption, except 
at Brandywine, marched on to Philadelphia. Into that 
elegant city, on the 26th of September, 1777, he entered 
in triumph ; fondly supposing, that, in America, as in 
Europe, the capture of the city was equivalent to the 
reduction of the country. But instead of finding him- 
self master of this great continent, whose rattle-snakes 
alone in the hand of heaven, could scourge his pre- 
sumption ; it was with no small difficulty he could keep 
possession of the little village of Germantown. For, 
on the morning of the 4th of October, Washington 
made an attack on him with such judgment and fury, 
that his troops gave way in every quarter. " The 
tumult, disorder and despair in the British army," says 
Washington, " were unparalleled." But in the very 
moment of the most decisive and glorious victory, 
when some of the provincial regiments had more pris- 
oners than men, the Americans, through the mistake of 
an officer, who had drank too freely, began to retreat ! ! 
Washington's grief and mortification were inexpressible. 

But while he was annoying the enemy by land, he 
did not lose sight of their fleet, which was now forcing 
its way up the Delaware, to keep open to the army a 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON ilO 

channel of supplies. They arrived, without molesta- 
tion, within 8 miles of Philadelphia, at a marsh called 
Mud-Island. On this poor harmless spot, the fittest, 
however, that nature in this peaceful land of Friends 
could furnish, Washington ordered a fort to be thrown 
up, the command of which, with 230 men, he assigned 
to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Smith. On the eastern 
or Jersey side of the river, at a place called Red-Bank, 
he ordered a strong redoubt, the command of which, 
with 250 men, was given to Colonel Greene. These, 
with some chevaux-de-frise sunk in the river, and a 
few gallies, formed all the barrier that Washington 
could present against the British navy. The strength 
of this barrier was soon put to a fiery trial. Great 
preparations were made to attack the Americans, at 
the same instant, both by land and water. Count 
Donop, with a host of Hessians, was sent over to be 
in readiness to attack Red-Bank, while the flood-tide, 
groaning under the enormous weight, brought up the 
men of war. The morning was still, and the heavens 
overcast with sad clouds, as of nature sympathizing 
with her children, and ready to drop showers of celes- 
tial pity on their strifes. No sooner had the ships 
floated up within three cables length of the fort, than 
they began a most tremendous cannonade : while can- 
non-balls and fire-tailed bombs, like comets, fell upon 
it thick as hail. The gallant Smith and his myrmidons 
stood the shock to a miracle : and, like men fighting 
under the eye of their Washington, drove two-and- 
thirty pounders through them with such spirit and 
success, that in a little time, the Augusta, a heavy 64 
gun ship, took fire, and blew up, the horrible balloon 



120 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

of many of the crew. Another ship called the Merlin, 
or Black-Bird, soon got on the wing, blew up likewise, 
and went off in thunder to join the Augusta. 

At the same moment Col. Donop, with his Hessians, 
made a gallant attack on the fort at Red-Bank. After 
a few well-directed fires, Greene and his men artfully 
retired from the out-works. The enemy now suppos- 
ing the day their own, rushed on in vast numbers 
along a large opening in the fort, and within twenty 
steps of a masked battery, of i8 pounders, loaded with 
grape-shot and spike-nails. All at once Erebus seemed 
to open before their affrighted view. But their pains 
and their terrors were but for a moment. Together 
down they sunk by hundreds, into the sweet slumbers 
of death, scarcely sensible of the fatal blow that reft 
their lives. 

Heaps on heaps the slaughter'd Hessians lie : 
Brave Greene beholds them with a tearful eye. 
Far now from home, and from their native shore. 
They sleep in death, and hear of wars no more. 

Poor Donop was mortally wounded, and taken pris- 
oner. The attentions of the American officers, and 
particularly the kind condolence of the godlike Wash- 
ington, quite overcame him ; and his last moments were 
steeped in tears of regret, for having left his native 
land to fight a distant people who had never injured 
him. 

On hearing of his misfortune, Washington sent an 
officer to condole with him. The officer was con- 
ducted to his apartment; and delivered the message. 
The wounded count appeared much affected — a tear 
swelled in his eye : and he said to the officer, " Pre- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 121 

sent to General Washington the thanks of an unfor- 
tunate brother soldier: tell him I expect to rise no 
more, but if I should, the first exertion of my strength 
shall be, to return to him my thanks in person." The 
officer sent was Colonel Daniel Clymer, of Berks, Penn- 
sylvania. " See here, Colonel," said the dying count, 
"see in me the vanity of all human pride! I have 
shone in all the courts of Europe; and now I am 
dying here, on the banks of the Delaware, in the house 
of an obscure Quaker ! " 

After six weeks of infinite fatigue, with great loss 
of men and money, the British forced a passage large 
enough for their provision ships to Philadelphia, where 
General Howe and his officers held their balls this 
winter; while i6 miles distant, the great Washington, 
well pleased with his campaign, retired to winter quar- 
ters at Valley Forge. 

While such ill success attended this part of the 
ministerial plan, viz. to choke the colonies by a mili- 
tary noose, so tightly drawn from Chesapeake to Cham- 
plain, as to stop all circulation between the northern 
and southern states; a worse fate frowned on their 
attempt in the north. General Burgoyne, with 10,000 
veterans, besides a host of Canadians and Indians, 
issuing forth from Canada in June, 1777, came pour- 
ing along down the lakes like the thundering Niagara, 
with an impetuosity that swept every thing before it. 
The hatchets of the Indians were drunk with Amer- 
ican blood. No age, no sex, could soften them. " The 
widow's wail, the virgin's shriek, and trembling infant's 
cry," were music in their ears. In cold blood they 
struck their cruel tomahawks into the defenceless heart 



122 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

of a Miss M'Rea, a beautiful girl, who was that very 
day to have been married! Such acts of inhumanity 
called forth the fiercest indignation of the Americans, 
and inspired that desperate resolution of which the 
human heart is capable, but which no human force can 
conquer. The New Englanders, who were nearest to 
these infernal scenes, turned out en masse. Wash- 
ington hurried on Gates and Arnold with their furious 
legions; and to these he joined the immortal Morgan 
with his dreadful phalanx, looo riflemen, whose trig- 
gers were never touched in vain, but could throw a ball 
a hundred yards at a squirrel's head, and never miss. 

The first check given to Burgoyne's career, was at 
Bennington. Hearing that the Americans had laid up 
large provisions in that town, he detached a Colonel 
Baum, with 600 Germans, to surprise it : and, at the 
same time, posted Colonel Breyman in the neighbour- 
hood, with an equal number to support him if neces- 
sary. Finding the place too well guarded either for 
surprise or storm, Baum fortified himself at a little 
distance, and sent back for Breyman. The American 
commander, the brave General Starke, sallied out, and 
with great fury attacked Baum's intrenchments with- 
out giving him time to receive his reinforcements. At 
the first onset, the Canadians and British marksmen 
took to their heels, and left the poor Germans in the 
lurch. After a gallant resistance, Baum was mortally 
wounded, and his brave countrymen killed or taken to 
a man. In the meantime Breyman, totally ignorant of 
their catastrophe, arrived at the place of action, where, 
instead of the cheering huzzas of joyful friends, he 
was saluted, on all hands, with the deadly whizzing of 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 123 

rifle bullets. After receiving a few close and scorching 
fires, the Germans hastily betook themselves to flight. 
The neighbouring woods, with night's sable curtains, 
enabled the fugitives to save themselves for that time 
at least. The enemy lost in these two engagements, 
not less than looo men, killed, wounded, and prisoners. 

About the same time all their forts on the lakes 
were surprised. Colonel St. Leger was defeated at 
Fort-Stanwix ; the Indians began to desert ; Arnold 
and Morgan were coming up like mountain-storms: 
and the militia from all quarters were pouring in. 
Burgoyne began to be alarmed, and wrote to New 
York for aid ; but finding that Clinton could give him 
none, and that the salvation of his army depended on 
themselves, he gallantly determined, on the 7th of 
October, 1777, to stake his all on the issue of a general 
battle. 

His army, in high spirits, was formed within a 
mile of the American camp. Burgoyne, with the flower 
of the British troops, composed the centre. Brigadier- 
General Frazer commanded the left. The Germans, 
headed by Major-Generals Philips and Reidesdel, and 
Col. Breyman formed the right. With a fine train of 
artillery, flying colours, and full roll of martial music, 
from wing to wing the towering heroes moved. On 
the other hand, fired with the love of liberty, the 
Americans poured out by thousands, eager for the 
glorious contest. Their dear country's flag waves over 
their heads. The thoughts of the warriors are on their 
children, and on the chains now forging for their 
tender hands. The avenging passions rise, and the 
battle moves. Morgan brought on the action. In a 



124 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

large buckwheat field, which lay between the two 
armies, he had concealed his famous regiment of rifle- 
men. The enemies, chiefly Canadians and Indians, 
unsuspiciously advance. They were suffered to come; 
within point blank shot, when they received a general 
fire, which strewed the field with their dead bodies. 
Morgan pursued ; but was soon met by a heavy rein- 
forcement from the British, who quickly drove him, 
in turn. Arnold then moved on to support Morgan ; 
and, in a short time, with nine heavy regiments was 
closely engaged with the whole of the British army, 
both parties fighting as if each was determined never 
to yield : while the incessant crash of muskets and roar 
of artillery appeared both to sight and sound as if two 
wrathful clouds had come down on the plain, rushing 
together, in hideous battle, with all their thunders and 
lightnings. The weight, however, of the American 
fire was directed against the enemy's centre, extending 
along the left wing: and though it was some time 
sustained with the greatest firmness, yet at length it 
prevailed, and threw the British into confusion. But 
the gallant Frazer flying to their assistance, soon re- 
stored their order and renewed the fight. Severely 
galled still by Morgan's rifles on the flanks, and hard 
pressed at the same time, in front by Arnold, they gave 
way a second time; and a second time Frazer's pres- 
ence revived their valour, and rekindled the battle in 
all its rage. 

Here Arnold did an act unworthy of the glory of 
the well fought battle. He ordered up twelve of his 
best riflemen, and pointing to Frazer, who on horse- 
back, with brandished sword, was gallantly animating 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 125 

his men, he said : " Mark that officer ! — Himself is a 
host; let me not see him long." 

The riflemen flew to their places, and in a few 
moments the hero was cut down. With him fell the 
courage of the left wing, who, being now fiercely 
charged, gave way, and retreated to their camp. But 
scarcely had they entered it, when the Americans, 
with Arnold at their head, stormed it with inconceiv- 
able fury ; rushing with trailed arms through a heavy 
discharge of musketry and grape shot. The British 
fought with equal desperation. For their all was at 
stake; the Americans, like a whelming flood, were 
bursting over their intrenchments ; and, hand to hand, 
with arguments of bloody steel, were pleading the cause 
of ages yet unborn. Hoarse as a mastiff of true 
British breed, Lord Balcarras was heard from rank to 
rank, loud-animating his troops ; while on the other 
hand, fierce as the hungry tiger of Bengal, the im- 
petuous Arnold precipitated his heroes on the stubborn 
foe. High in air, the encountering banners blazed; 
there bold waving the lion-painted standard of Britain; 
here the streaming pride of Columbia's lovely stripes — 
while thick below, ten thousand eager warriors close 
the darkening files, all bristled with vengeful steel. 
No firing is heard. But shrill and terrible, from rank 
to rank, resounds the clash of bayonets — frequent and 
sad the groans of the dying. Pairs on pairs, Britons 
and Americans, with each his bayonet in his brother's 
breast, fall forward together faint-shrieking in death, 
and mingle their smoking blood. 

Many were the widows, many the orphans that 
were made that day. Long did the daughters of 



126 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

Columbia mourn their fallen brothers! and often did 
the lovely maids of Caledonia roll their soft blue eyes 
of sorrow along the sky-bound sea, to meet the sails of 
their returning lovers. 

But alas! their lovers shall return no more. Far 
distant, on the banks of the roaring Hudson they lie, 
pale and helpless on the fields of death. Glassy now 
and dim are those eyes which once " beamed with 
friendship, or which flamed in war." Their last 
thoughts are towards the maids of their love: and the 
big tears glisten in their eye, as they heave the parting 
groan. 

Then was seen the faded form of Ocean's Queen, 
far-famed Britannia, sitting alone and tearful on her 
western cliff. With downcast look her faithful lion 
lay roaring at her feet ; while torn and scattered on 
the rock were seen her many trophies of ancient fame. 
Silent, in dishevelled locks, the goddess sat, absorbed 
in grief, when the gale of the west came blackening 
along the wave, laden with the roar of murderous 
battle. At once she rose — a livid horror bespread 
her cheeks — distraction glared on her eye-balls, hard 
strained towards the place whence came the groans of 
her children ! the groans of her children fast sinking 
in a distant land. Thrice she essayed to curse the 
destroyers of her race. But thrice she remembered, 
that they too were her sons. Then, wild shrieking 
with a mother's anguish, she rent the air with her cries : 
and the hated name of North resounded through all 
her caves. 

But still in all its rage the battle burned: and both 
parties fought with an obstinacy, never exceeded. But, 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 127 

in that moment of danger and of glory, the impetuous 
Arnold, who led the Americans, was dangerously 
wounded, and forced to retire ; and several regiments 
of British infantry pouring in to the assistance of their 
gallant comrades, the Americans, after many hard 
struggles, were finally repulsed. 

In another quarter, where the strength of the Ger- 
mans fought, the Americans, led on by Morgan, carried 
the intrenchments sword in hand. The face of Morgan 
was like the full moon in a stormy night, when she looks 
down red and fiery on the raging deep, amidst founder- 
ing wrecks and cries of drowning seamen ; while his 
voice, like thunder on the hills, was heard, loud-shout- 
ing his heroes to the bloody charge. The tall regi- 
ments of Hesse Cassel fell or fled before them ; leaving 
their baggage, tents and artillery, in the hands of the 
victors. 

This was a bloody day to both armies: but so 
peculiarly disheartening to the British, that they were 
obliged to retreat that night to Saratoga, where, in a 
few days (on the 13th of October, 1777), they sur- 
rendered to the Americans, under Gates, by whom 
they were treated with a generosity that astonished 
them. For, when the British were marched out to 
lay down their arms, there was not an American to 
be seen! They had all nobly retired for a moment, 
as if unwilling to give the pain, even to their enemies, 
of being spectators of so humiliating a scene ! Worthy 
countrymen of Washington ! this deed of yours shall 
outlive the stars, and the blest sun himself, smiling, 
shall proclaim, that in the wide travel of his beams, he 
never looked upon its like before. 



128 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

Thus, gloriously for America, ended the campaign 
of ^TJ. That of '78 began as auspiciously. In May, 
Silas Deane arrived from France, with the welcome 
news of a treaty with that powerful people, and a 
letter from Louis XVL to Congress, whom he styled — 
very dear great friends and allies. 

Soon as it was known by the British ambassador 
at Paris, Lord Stormont, that the king of France had 
taken part with the Americans, he waited on the 
French minister, De Vergennes ; and with great agita- 
tion mentioned the report, asking if it were possible it 
could be true. 

" Very possible, my Lord," replied the smooth 
Frenchman. 

" Well, Fm astonished at it, sir," continued Stor- 
mont, exceedingly mortified. " America, sir, is our 
daughter! and it was extremely indelicate of the 
French king thus to decoy her from our embraces, 
and make a w — e of her ! " 

" Why, as to that matter, my Lord," quoth Ver- 
gennes, with the true Gallic shrug, " there is no great 
harm done. For the king of France is very willing 
to marry your daughter, and make an honest woman 
of her." 



CHAPTER X 

Lord North, coming to his senses, sends commissioners to 
America — Clinton evacuates Philadelphia — Washington 
pursues him — battle of Monmouth — Arnold's apostacy — 
Andre apprehended — executed — his character. 

The news of the total loss of Burgoyne and his 
army soon reached Parliament, where it produced a 
consternation never before known in that house. The 
Ministry, utterly confounded, could not open their lips ; 
while the Whig minority, with great severity, lashed 
their obstinacy and ignorance. Lord North, beginning 
now to find, as the great Chatham had foretold, that 
" three millions of Whigs, with arms in their hands, 
were not to be enslaved," became very anxious to 
conciliate ! Commissioners were sent over with offers 
to repeal the obnoxious taxes ! and also with promises 
of great favours which Lord North would confer on 
America, if she would settle the dispute with the 
mother country. The better to dispose her towards 
these offers, elegant presents were to be made to her 
best friends (such as Washington, the President of 
Congress, &c., &c.) to speak a good word for Lord 
North's favours ! ! But, observe, Independence was to 
be out of the question. 

Doctor Franklin used laughingly to say, that " Lord 

North and his great favours, put him in mind of an 

old bawd, and her attempts upon a young virgin, to 

whom she promised every thing but Innocence. While 

9 129 



130 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

in robbing her of innocence, the old hag knew well 
enough that she was robbing the poor girl of that 
without which she would soon, in spite of her fine 
gowns and necklaces, become a miserable outcast and 
slave." 

Finding that Lord North, in the multitude of his 
favours, had entirely forgotten the only one which 
they valued, i.e., the Independence of their country, 
the committee of Congress broke ofif all farther con- 
verse with the ministerial commissioners, who pro- 
ceeded immediately to try the efficacy of their presents. 
To Washington, 'tis said, a viceroyship, with tons of 
gold, was to have been tendered. But, to the honour 
of the commissioners be it said, not one of their number 
was graceless enough to breathe the polluted wish into 
his ear. They had, however, the hardihood to throw 
out a bait of 10,000 guineas to the President of Con- 
gress, Gen. Reed. His answer is worthy of lasting 
remembrance. " Gentlemen," said he, " I am poor, 
very poor. But your king is not rich enough to buy 
me!" 

On the i8th of June, the British army, now under 
the command of Clinton, evacuated Philadelphia for 
New York. The figure they made on the road had 
something of the air of the sublime; for their bag- 
gage, loaded horses, and carriages, formed a line not 
less than twelve miles in length. General Washington, 
whose eye, like that of the sacred dragon, was always 
open, and fixed upon the enemies of America, imme- 
diately crossed the Delaware after them — pushed on 
detached corps to obstruct their advance — ^gall their 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 131 

flanks — and fall on their rear, while he himself moved 
on with the main body of the army. By the 27th, 
Clinton had advanced as far as Monmouth : and Wash- 
ington's troops were close on his flank and rear. Next 
morning Gen. Lee, with 5000 men, was ordered to 
begin the attack; Washington moving on briskly to 
support him. But, as he advanced, to his infinite 
astonishment he met Lee retreating, and the enemy 
pursuing. " For God's sake. General Lee," said Wash- 
ington with great warmth, " what's the cause of this 
ill-tim'd prudence ? " 

" No man, sir," replied Lee, quite convulsed with 
rage, " can boast a larger portion of that rascally virtue 
than your Excellency ! ! " 

Dashing along by the madman, Washington rode 
up to his troops, who, at sight of him, rent the air 
with " God save great Washington ! " 

" My brave fellows," said he, "can you fight? " 

They answered with three cheers ! " Then face 
about, my heroes, and charge." — This order was exe- 
cuted with infinite spirit. The enemy, finding them- 
selves now warmly opposed in front, made an attempt 
to turn his left flank ; but were gallantly attacked and 
driven back. They then made a rapid push to the 
right: but the brave Greene, with a choice body of 
troops and artillery, repulsed them with considerable 
slaughter. At the same instant, Wayne advanced with 
his legion ; and poured in so severe and well directed 
a fire, that the enemy were glad to regain their defiles. 
Morgan's rifles distinguished themselves that day. 
Washington and his heroes lay upon their arms all 



132 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

night, resolved to fall on the enemy the moment they 
should attempt their retreat next morning. But during 
the night, they moved off in silence; and got such a 
start, that Washington thought it dangerous, in such 
hot weather, to make a push after them. The Amer- 
icans lost 58 killed — 140 wounded. The British had 
249 killed, and the wounded in proportion. Numbers, 
on both sides, died of the extreme heat, and by drink- 
ing cold water. 

In September, 1780, an attempt was made to take 
off our Washington, and by means which I can hardly 
believe the old British lion was ever well pleased with. 

I allude to the affair of Arnold's treason. That 
which makes rogues of thousands, I mean Extrava- 
gance, was the ruin of this great soldier. Though 
extremely brave, he was of that vulgar sort, who hav- 
ing no taste for the pleasures of the mind, think of 
nothing but high living, dress, and show. To rent 
large houses in Philadelphia — to entertain French Am- 
bassadors — to give balls and concerts, and grand din- 
ners and suppers — required more money than he could 
honestly command. And, alas ! such is the stuff whereof 
spendthrifts are made, that to fatten his Prodigality, 
Arnold consented to starve his Honesty : and provided 
he might but figure as a gorgeous Governor, he was 
content to retail, by the billet and the gill, wood and 
rum unfairly drawn from the commissary's store! 

Colonel Melcher, the barrack master, mentioned the 
matter to Congress, who desired him to issue to Gen- 
eral Arnold no more than his proper rations. He 
had scarcely returned home when Arnold's servant 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 133 

appeared with an order for another large supply of 
Rum, Hickory wood, &c. &c. 

" Inform your master," said Melcher, " that he 
can't have so much." 

Arnold immediately came down; and in a great 
passion asked Colonel Melcher, if it was true he had 
protested his bill? 

"Yes, sir!" 

" And how durst you do it? " 

" By order of Congress, sir." 

At this, Arnold, half choked with rage, replied, 

"D n the rascals! I'll remember them for it. 

Sampson-like I'll shake the pillars of their Liberty 
temple about their ears." 

On the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, 
Gen. Arnold had been appointed temporary governor 
of that city, where he behaved like a desperado, who 
hesitates at nothing to stop the deadly leaks of his 
prodigality, and to keep himself from sinking. Among 
other bold strokes, he seized and sold large quantities 
of American property, pretending it was British. Com- 
plaints were made to Congress, who, unwilling to 
expose the man who had fought so gallantly for Liberty, 
tieated him with great gentleness: and for the same 
reason, Washington, after a mild reproof, gave him 
the command of West Point, with a large body of 
troops. 

The history of Arnold's embarrassments and his 
quarrel with his countrymen, soon reached New York. 
The British commander, well knowing the ticklish situ- 
ation of a proud man, caught on the horns of poverty, 



134 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

sends up Major Andre, with money in his pocket. 
The major, by means yet unknown to the public, got 
near enough to Arnold to probe him ; and, alas ! found 
him, both in principle and purse, hollow as an ex- 
hausted receiver, and very willing to be filled up with 
English guineas. English guineas, to the tune of ten 
thousand, with the rank and pay of Brigadier General, 
are offered him : and Arnold agrees, Oh ! shocking to 
humanity! Arnold agrees to sacrifice Washington. 

The outlines of the project were, it seems, that 
Arnold should make such a disposition of the troops 
at West Point, as to enable Sir Henry Clinton, so 
completely to surprise them, that they must inevitably, 
either lay down their arms or be cut to pieces — with 
General Washington among them ! ! The victorious 
British were then, both by land and water, to rush 
upon the feeble and dispirited residue of the American 
army, in the neighbourhood, utterly unable to resist, 
when there would follow such a slaughter of men, and 
such a sweeping of artillery, ammunition, stores, &c. 
&c., as would completely break down the spirit of the 
nation, and reduce them to unconditional submission 
to the Ministry ! 

To be certified of this delightful truth, Andre, dur- 
ing Washington's absence from West Point, comes 
ashore from a sloop of war, with a surtout over his 
regimentals; spends a day and night with Arnold; 
sees with his own eyes, the dear train laid, the matches 
lighted, and every thing in readiness, a few nights 
hence, to send the old Virginia farmer and his republic 
to destruction. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 135 

Every thing being settled to satisfaction, Andre 
wishes to set off to carry the glorious news to Gen- 
eral Clinton. But, behold! by a fine stroke of Provi- 
dential interference, he cannot get on board the ship ! ! 
Arnold gives him a horse and a pass to go to New 
York by land. Under the name of Anderson he 
passes, in safety, all the guards. Now, like an un- 
caged bird, and light as the air he breathes, he sweeps 
along the road. His fame brightens before him — 
stars and garters, coaches and castles, dance before 
his delighted fancy — even his long-loved reluctant 
Delia (Miss Seward) is all his own — she joins in the 
nation's gratitude — softly she rolls her eyes of love, 
and brightening in all her beauty, sinks on his en- 
raptured breast ! In the midst of these, too, too happy 
thoughts, he is met by three young militia men. Though 
not on duty, they challenged him. He answers by the 
name of Anderson ; shews his pass ; and bounds away. 
Here the guardian genius of Columbia burst into tears 
— she saw the fall of her hero, and her country's 
liberties crushed for ever. Dry thine eyes, blest saint, 
thy Washington is not fallen yet. The thick bosses of 
Jehovah's buckler are before the chief : and the shafts 
of his enemies shall yet fall to the earth, accurst — 
For, scarce had Andre passed the young militia-men, 
before one of them tells his comrades, that " he does 
not like his looks ; " and insists that he shall be called 
back, and questioned again. His answers prove him a 
spy. He would have fled : but they level their muskets. 
Trembling and pale, he offers them an elegant gold- 
watch to let him go. No ! He presses on them a purse 



136 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

bloated with guineas. No ! He promises each of them 
a handsome pension for life — but all in vain. The 
power that guarded Washington was wroth with 
Andre. On searching him they find in his boot, and 
in Arnold's own hand-writing, a plan of the whole 
conspiracy! Sons of the generous soul, why should 
I tell how Major Andre died ! The place where his 
gallows stood is overgrown with weeds — but smiling 
angels often visit the spot; and it was bathed with 
the tears of his foes. 

His candour, on his examination, in some sort ex- 
piated his crime. It melted the angel soul of Wash- 
ington : and the tears of the hero were mingled with 
the ink that signed the death-warrant of the hapless 
youth. The names of the young men who arrested 
poor Andre, were, John Paulding, David Williams, 
and Isaac Van Vert. They were at cards under a 
large poplar that grew by the road, where the major 
was to pass. Congress rewarded them with silver 
medals; and settled on each of them $200 annually, 
for life. 

American writers have recorded a thousand hand- 
some things of unfortunate Andre. They have made 
him scholar, soldier, gentleman, poet, painter, musi- 
cian, and, in short, every thing that talents and taste 
can make a man. The following anecdote will show 
that he was much greater still. 

Some short time before that fatal affair which 
brought him to his end (said my informant, Mr. 
Drcwy, a painter, now living at Newbern), a foraging 
party from New-York made an inroad into our settle- 




CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 137 

ment near that city. The neighbours soon assembled 
to oppose them; and, though not above fifteen years 
old, I turned out with my friends. In company was 
another boy, in age and size nearly about my own 
speed. We had counted on a fine chase. But the 
British were not to be driven so easily as we had ex- 
pected. Standing their ground, they not only put us 
to flight, but captured several of our party ; myself 
and the other boy among them. They presently set 
out with us for New- York : and, all the way, as we 
were going, my heart ached to think how my poor 
mother and sisters would be distressed when night 
came, and I did not return. Soon as they brought me 
in sight of the prison, I was struck with horror. The 
gloomy walls, and frightful guards at the doors, and 
wretched crowds at the iron windows, together with 
the thoughts of being locked up there in dark dun- 
geons with disease and death, so overcame me, that 
I bursted into tears. Instantly a richly dressed officer 
stepped up, and taking me by the hand, with a look 
of great tenderness, said, " My dear boy ! what makes 
you cry?" I told him I could not help it when I 
compared my present sad prospect with the happy 
one I enjoyed in the morning with my mother and 
sisters at home. " Well, well, my dear child, (said he) 
don't cry, don't cry any more." Then turning to the 
jailor ordered him to stop till he should come back. 
Though but a boy, yet I was deeply struck with the 
wonderful difiference betwixt this man and the rest 
around me. He appeared to me like a brother; they 
like brutes. I asked the jailor who he was. " Why, 



138 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

that's Major Andre (said he angrily), the adjutant- 
general of the army; and you may thank your stars 
that he saw you ; for I suppose he is gone to the general 
to beg you off, as he has done many of your d — d 
rebel countrymen." In a short time he returned ; and 
with great joy in his countenance called out — " Well, 
my boys, I've good news, good news for you! The 
general has given you to me, to dispose of as I choose ; 
and now you are at liberty! So run home to your 
fond parents, and be good boys ; mind what they tell 
you; say your prayers; love one another; and God 
Almighty will bless you." 

And yet Andre perished on a gallows while Arnold, 
after living to old age, died in his bed ! ! Shall we 
hence infer with Brutus, that " Virtue is but an empty 
name? " and that Andre had been good in vain? God 
forbid ! Goodness and happiness are twins. Heaven 
hath joined them together, and Hell cannot put them 
asunder. For proof, we need go no further than to 
Andre himself — to Andre in prison! Even in that 
last and gloomiest scene of his life, we see the power 
which virtue has to illuminate the dark, to enliven 
the sad, and to raise her votaries above the terrors 
of death. In the first moment of his capture, when 
vulgar minds are thinking of nothing but self-preserva- 
tion, he is thinking of nothing but duty and generosity. 
Regardless of himself, he is only anxious for Arnold. 
Having by letter advised that wretched man of his 
danger, and given him time to escape, he then gallantly 
asserts his own real character ; and avows himself " the 
Adjutant General of the British army." 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 139 

The truth is, he had been sent by Gen. Clinton, on 
a dirty piece of business for which he was not fit; 
and of which he was so heartily ashamed, that he 
appears to have been willing to atone for it with his 
life. Hence to the questions put at his trial, he an- 
swered with a candour which at once surprised and 
melted the Court Martial — he answered, with the can- 
dour of a mind which feared its own condemnation 
more than that of any human tribunal. — He heard his 
sentence of death with perfect indifference ; and at the 
place of execution behaved like one who had fulfilled 
the high duties of son, brother, and man, with constant 
attention to a happy immortality. Thus giving the 
friends of virtue abundant cause to exclaim : 

" Far more true peace the dying Andre felt, 
Than Arnold ever knew in prosp'rous guilt." 

He, poor wretch, survived! but only to live a life, at 
once hated and despised — hated by the British General, 
whom he had shown capable of assassinating the man 
he could not conquer — hated by the British army, whom 
he had robbed of one of its brightest ornaments — and 
hated by the officers, who could not bear to see what 
they called " a d — ^mn'd traitor," not only introduced 
into their company, but placed over their heads ! In 
short, Arnold was an eye-sore to every man of honour 
in England, where he was often most grossly insulted. 
Soon after his flight to England with the slender 
remains of the British army, he went down to South- 
ampton, where the broken-hearted Mother and Sisters 
of the unfortunate Andre lived. And so little was he 



140 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

acquainted with the human heart, that he called to see 
them ! On hearing his name announced by the servant, 
they burst into tears ; and sent him word, that " they 
did not wish to see him." 

The moment he received Major Andre's letter, the 
terrified Arnold made his escape to New- York. 

British historians have wondered that he left his 
wife in the power of Washington. But Arnold knew 
in whom he trusted: and the generous man behaved 
exactly as Arnold had foreseen; for he immediately 
sent him his clothes and baggage; and wrote a polite 
letter of condolence to his lady, offering her a convey- 
ance to her husband, or to her friends in Pennsylvania. 

Washington now waged the war with various suc- 
cess. On the one hand, his hero of Saratoga (Gates) 
was defeated with great loss, at Camden ; on the other, 
the British lost, on the King's-Mountain, the brave 
Colonel Ferguson, with all his army, 1,400 men. 
Colonel Ferguson and his men were supposed by the 
British, the most exquisite marksmen alive. And in- 
deed to hear their bravadoes, one would suppose, that 
give them but guns of a proper calibre, and they would 
think it a light affair to snuff the moon, or drive the 
centre of the fixed stars. But the American Riffe- 
boys soon led them into a truer way of thinlcing. For 
in a few rounds they pink'd the brave Colonel, and 
put 300 of his exquisite marksmen asleep; which 
struck such a wholesome panic into the survivors, that 
they threw down their arms, and like thrifty gentlemen 
called out right lustily for quarters. 

But few of the Americans fell; but among these 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 141 

was one, whose fame " Time with his own eternal 
lip shall sing." I mean the brave Col. Williams. He 
it was, whose burning words first kindled the young 
farmers at their ploughs, and led them to the King's 
Mountain, to measure their youthful rifles with Fer- 
guson's heroes. On receiving the ball which opened 
in his breast the crimson sluice of life, he was borne by 
his aids, into the rear; where he was scarcely laid 
down, fainting with loss of blood, before a voice was 
heard, loud exclaiming, " Hurra ! my boys ! the day is 
our own ! the day is our own ! they are crying for 
quarters ! " Instantly he started as from the incipient 
sleep of death ; and, opening his heavy eyes, eagerly 
called out, " My God! who are crying for quarters? " 
" The British ! The British ! " replied the powder- 
blackened riflemen. At this, one last beam of joy 
lighted in a smile on his dying face : then faintly whis- 
pering, God be praised ! he bowed his head in ever- 
lasting peace. 

Joy follow thee, my brother, to his blest presence 
who sent thee, a pillar of fire, to blast the mad efforts 
of men fighting against their brethren! On earth thy 
fame shall never fail. Children yet unborn shall lisp 
the name of Williams. Their cherub lips shall often 
talk of him whose patriot eye beheld them, afar off, 
smiling on the breast, and with a parent's ardour 
hasted to ward from their guiltless heads the curses 
of monarchy. 

After the defeat of Gates, Washington sent on his 
favourite Greene to head the southern army against 
the victorious Cornwallis and Tarleton. With Greene 



142 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

he joined the famous Morgan, whose riflemen had per- 
formed such signal service during the war. 

To draw Comwallis's attention from a blow medi- 
tated against the British post at Ninety-Six, Greene 
detached Morgan to Paulet's river, near the neighbour- 
hood of Cornwallis and Tarleton, Immediately the 
pride of Tarleton rose. He begged of his friend, Lord 
Rawdon, to obtain for him the permission of the com- 
mander in chief to go and attack Morgan. " By 
heavens, my lord," said he, " I could not desire a finer 
feather in my cap than Col. Morgan. Such a prisoner 
would make my fortune." "Ah, Ben," replied Rawdon 
very coolly, " you had better let the old wagoner alone." 
As no refusal could satisfy, permission at length was 
granted him: and he instantly set out. At parting, he 
said to Lord Rawdon with a smile, " My lord, if you 
will be so obliging as to wait dinner, the day after 
to-morrow, till four o'clock, Col. Morgan shall be one 
of your lordship's guests." " Very well, Ben," said the 
other, " we shall wait. But remember, Morgan was 
brought up under Washington." Tarleton was fol- 
lowed to battle by about looo choice infantry and 250 
horse, with two field pieces. To oppose this formidable 
force, Morgan had but 500 militia, 300 regulars, and 
75 horse. His militia were but militia. His regulars 
were the famous Maryland line led by Howard ; men 
who would have done honour to the plains of Auster- 
litz. The intrepid Desaix, who turned the tide of war 
in the bloody strife of Marengo, was only equal to 
Washington, Col. of the horse. Morgan had no wish 
to fight. But Tarleton compelled him ; for about two 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 143 

hours before day, on the 17th of January, 1781, some 
of Washington's cavalry came galloping into camp with 
news that the British were but eight miles off, and 
would be up by day break. Instantly Morgan called a 
council of war, composed only of Howard, Washing- 
ton, and himself. " Well, gentlemen," said he, " what's 
to be done? shall we fight or fly? shall we leave our 
friends to our enemies; and burning our meal and 
bacon, so hardly got, turn out again into the starving 
woods ; or shall we stand by both, and fight like men ? " 

" No burning ! no flying," replied they, " but let's 
stand, and fight like men ! " 

"Well then, my brave fellows," said Morgan, "wake 
up the troops, and prepare for action." 

The ground, on which this very memorable battle 
was fought, was an open pine barren. The militia 
were drawn up about two hundred yards in front of 
the regulars, and the horse some small distance in 
the rear. Just after day break, the British came in 
sight; and halting within a quarter of a mile of the 
militia, began to prepare for battle. The sun had just 
risen, as the enemy, with loud shouts, advanced to 
the charge. The militia, hardly waiting to give them 
a distant fire, broke and fled for their horses, which 
were tied at some distance on the wings of the Mary- 
land line. Tarleton's cavalry pushed hard after the 
fugitives, and, coming up with them just as they had 
reached their horses, began to cut them down. Unable 
to bear that sight. Col. Washington, with his corps, 
dashed on to their rescue. As if certain of victory, 
Tarleton's men were all scattered in the chase ! Wash- 



144 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

ington's heroes, on the contrary, sensible of the fearful 
odds against them, advanced close and compact as the 
Spartan phalanx. Then sudden and terrible the charge 
was made ! Like men fighting, life in hand, all at once 
they rose high on their stirrups! while in streams of 
lightning their swords came down, and heads and arms, 
and caps, and carcasses, distained with spouting gore, 
rolled fearfully all around. Mournfully from all sides 
the cries of the wounded were heard, and the hollow 
groans of the dying. 

Agonizing with rage and grief, Tarleton beheld 
the flight of his boasted victory, and the slaughter of 
his bravest troops. He flew to reanimate them. He 
encouraged — he threatened — he stormed and raved. 
But all in vain. No time was given to rally; for like 
the heavy ship under crowded canvas, bursting through 
the waves, so strong and resistless, Washington's squad- 
ron went on, hewing down and overthrowing every 
thing in their way. Confounded by such a fatal charge, 
the British cavalry could not support it ; but broke and 
fled in the utmost precipitation ; while, bending forward 
over their horses, and waving their blood-stained 
swords, the loud-shouting Americans pursued. The 
woods resounded with the noise of their flight. 

As when a mammoth suddenly dashes in among 
a thousand buffaloes, feeding at large on the vast 
plains of Missouri ; all at once the innumerous herd, 
with wildly rolling eyes, and hideous bellowings, break 
forth into flight, while, close at their heels, the roaring 
monster follows. Earth trembles as they fly. Such 
was the noise in the chase of Tarleton, when the swords 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 145 

of Washington's cavalry pursued his troops from the 
famous fields of the Cowpens. It was like a peal of 
thunder, loud roaring at first, but gradually dying on 
the ear as it rolls away along the distant air. 

By this time the British infantry had come up : and, 
having crossed a little valley, just as they ascended the 
hill, they found themselves within twenty steps of 
Howard and his regulars, who received them with a 
right soldierly welcome, and, taking good aim, poured 
in a general and deadly fire. A slaughter so entirely 
unexpected, threw the enemy into confusion. Seeing 
this wonderful change in the battle, the militia recov- 
ered their spirits, and began to form on the right of 
the regulars. Morgan waving his sword, instantly 
rode up to them, and with a voice of thunder roared 
out, " Hurra ! my brave fellows, form, form ! Old 
Morgan was never beat in his life — one fire more, my 
heroes, and the day is our own ! " With answering 
shouts, both regulars and militia then advanced upon 
the enemy, and, following their fire with the bayonet, 
instantly decided the conflict. The ground was covered [ 
with the dead. The tops of the aged pines shook with 
the ascending ghosts. With feeble cries and groans, 
at once they rose, like flocks of snow-white swans 
when the cold blast strikes them on the lakes of 
Canada, and sends them on wide-spread wings, far 
to the south to seek a happier clime. 

Washington pursued Tarleton 20 miles ! and, during 

the race, was often so near him, that he could easily 

have killed him with a pistol shot. But having strictly 

forbidden his men to fire a pistol that day, he could 

10 



146 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

not resolve to break his own orders. However, there 
was one of his men who broke them. At one time 
Washington was 30 or 40 yards ahead of his men. 
Tarleton observing this, suddenly wheeled with a 
couple of his dragoons to cut him off. Washington, 
with more courage than prudence, perhaps, dashed on, 
and rising on his stirrups, made a blow at Tarleton, 
with such force, that it beat down his guard and 
mutilated one or two of his fingers. In this unpro- 
tected state, one of the British dragoons was aiming a 
stroke which must have killed him. But the good 
genii, who guard the name of Washington, prevailed : 
for in that critical moment a mere dwarf of a French- 
man rushed up, and with a pistol ball shivered the arm 
of the Briton. The other dragoon attempted to wheel 
ofif ; but was cut down. Tarleton made his escape. 

Tarleton was brave, but not generous. He could 
not bear to hear another's praise. When some ladies 
in Charleston were speaking very handsomely of Wash- 
ington, he replied with a scornful air, that, " He would 
be very glad to get a sight of Col. Washington. He 
had heard much talk of him," he said, " but had never 
seen him yet." " Why, sir," rejoined one of the 
ladies, " if you had looked behind you at the battle of 
the Cowpens, you might easily have enjoyed that 
pleasure." 

While in the neighbourhood of Halifax, North 
Carolina, Tarleton dined in a large company. The 
elegant and witty Mrs. Wiley Jones happened to be 
of the party. The ladies, who were chiefly whigs, 
were frequently praising the brave Col. Washington. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 147 

Tarleton with looks considerably angry, replied, " that 
he was very much surprised that the Americans should 
think so highly of Col. Washington; for, from what 
he could learn, he was quite an illiterate fellow and 
could hardly write his own name." " That may be 
very true (replied Mrs. Jones), but I believe, sir, 
you can testify that he knows how to make his mark." 
Poor Tarleton looked at his crippled finger, and bit his 
lips with rage. 

General Washington continued the war against the 
British till 1781 ; when Cornwallis pushed into Vir- 
ginia, and fortified himself at Yorktown. But the 
eye of Washington was upon him ; and with an ad- 
dress, which, the British historians say, was never 
equalled, he concerted a plan that ended in the total 
destruction of Cornwallis. He artfully wrote letters 
to Greene, informing him, that, " in order to relieve 
Virginia, he was determined immediately to attack 
New York." These letters were so disposed as to 
fall into the right hands. Clinton took the alarm. 
But while the British general was in daily expectation 
of a visit from him, Washington and his army, were 
now across the Delaware, with full stretch to the 
south, darkening the day with their clouds of rolling 
dust. Cornwallis saw that the day of his fall was at 
hand. He had done all that a brave (would to God we 
could add, a humane) man could do; but all in vain. 
On the last day of September, Washington sat down 
before York, with 100 pieces of heavy artillery. On 
the 7th of October this dreadful train began to thunder : 
and the British works sunk before them. Lord Corn- 



148 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

wallis, unwilling to expose his army to the destruction 
of a general assault, agreed on the 17th to surrender. 
This was justly considered the close of the war ; which 
having been begun with supplication, Washington 
piously ordered to be finished with thanksgiving. 

In the siege of Yorktown, the behaviour of the 
Americans was, as usual, generous and noble. The 
amiable Col. Scammel, adjutant-general of the Amer- 
ican anny, and uncommonly beloved by them, was 
dangerously wounded and taken prisoner by some 
British dragoons, who barbarously trotted him on 
before them, three miles, into town, where he pres- 
ently died of fever and loss of blood. Great was the 
mourning for Scammel. In a few nights after, Wash- 
ington gave orders to storm two of the enemy's re- 
doubts, which were carried almost in an instant. The 
British called for quarters: A voice of death was 
heard, " Remember poor Scammel ! " — " Remember, 
gentlemen, you are Americans!" was rejoined by the 
commander: and instantly the points of the American 
bayonets were thrown up towards heaven ! 

The conduct of the French also, was such as to 
entitle them to equal praise. 

For when the British marched out to lay down 
their arms, the French officers were seen to shed 
tears. They condoled with the British, and tendered 
them their purses! — Glorious proof, that God never 
intended men to be, as some wickedly term it, natural 
enemies. 

On hearing in Congress the fall of Cornwallis, the 
door-keeper swooned with joy — on hearing the same 




SURRENDER OF LORD CORNWALLIS 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 149 

news announced in parliament, Lord North fell back 
in his chair, in the deepest distress. On receipt of 
the glad tidings. Congress broke forth into songs of 
praise to God : Parliament into execrations against 
their Prime Minister — Congress hastened to the temple 
to pay their vows to the Most High ; the Parliament 
went to St. James's with a petition to the King for a 
change of men and measures. The King was graciously 
pleased to hear the voice of their prayer. Men and 
measures were changed ; and a decree was passed that 
whoever should advise war and a farther widening 
of the breach between Britain and America, should be 
denounced an equal enemy to both. Then full leafed 
and green the olive branch of peace was held out to the 
nations: and the eyes of millions, on both sides of the 
water, were lifted in transport to the lovely sign. The 
stern features of war were relaxed ; and gladdening 
smiles began again to brighten over the " human face 
divine." But Washington beheld the lovely sight with 
doubt. Long accustomed unerringly to predict what 
Britain would do, from what he knew she had power 
to do, he had nothing to hope, but every thing to fear. 
America, without money or credit ! — her officers, with- 
out a dollar in their pocket, strolling about camps 
in long beards and dirty shirts — her soldiers often 
without a crust in their knapsacks or a dram in their 
canteens — and her citizens every where sick and tired 
of war! — Great Britain, on the other hand, every 
where victorious over the fleets of her enemies — com- 
pletely mistress of the watery world, and Judas-like, 
bag-bearer of its commerce and cash ! with such re- 



150 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

sources, with all these trumps in her hands, she will 
play quits, and make a drawn game of it ? Impossible ! 
but if she should, " it must be the work of that Provi- 
dence who ruleth in the armies of Heaven and earth, 
and whose hand has been visibly displayed in every 
step of our progress to independence." " Nothing," 
continued Washington, " can remove my doubts but 
an order from the ministry to remove their fleets and 
armies." 

That welcome order, at length, was given! and 
the British troops, sprucely powdered and perfumed, 
in eager thousands hied on board their ships. 

" All hands unmoor ! " the stamping boatswain cried : 
"All hands unmoor!" the joyous crew replied. 

Then in a moment they all fly to work. Some 
seizing the ready handspikes, vault high upon the 
windlasses ; thence coming down all at once with the 
hearty Yo-heave-O, they shake the sounding decks, 
and tear from their dark oozy beds the ponderous 
anchors. Others, with halyards hard strained through 
the creaking blocks, sway aloft the wide-extended 
yards, and spread their canvas to the gale, which, 
with increasing freshness, bears the broad-winged 
ships in foam and thunder through the waves. Great 
was the joy of the multitude ; for they were hasten- 
ing to revisit their native land, and to meet those 
eyes of love which create a heaven in a virtuous 
breast. But the souls of some were sad. These were 
the reflecting few, whose thoughts were on the better 
hopes of former days! To them, the flowing bowl. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 151 

the lively joke, the hearty laugh and song, gave no 
delight; nor yet the blue fields of ocean brightly 
shining round, with all her young billows wantoning 
before the playful breeze. Their country ruined, and 
themselves repulsed, how could they rejoice! Then 
slowly retiring from the noisy crew, by themselves 
apart they sat on the lofty stern, high above the burn- 
ing track which the ships left behind them in their 
rapid flight. There, deep in thought, they sat with 
eyes sad fixed on the lessening shores, and ruminated 
even to melancholy. The dismal war returns upon 
their thoughts, with the pleasant days of '76, then 
bright with hope, but, now, alas ! all darkened in 
despair. " 'Twas then," said they, " we first approached 
these coasts, shaded far and wide with our navies, 
nodding tall and stately over the heaving surge. From 
their crowded decks looked forth myriads of bloom- 
ing warriors, eagerly gazing on the lovely shores, the 
farms, and flocks, and domes, fondly regarded as their 
own, with all the beauteous maids, the easy purchase 
of a bloodless strife ! But ah, vain hope ! Washington 
met us in his strength. His people poured around him 
as the brindled sons of the desert around their sire 
when he lifts his terrible voice, and calls them from 
their dens, to aid him in war against the mighty 
rhinoceros. The battle raged along a thousand fields — 
a thousand streams ran purple with British gore. And 
now of all our blooming warriors, alas! how few re- 
main ! Pierced by the fatal rifle, far the greater part 
now press their bloody beds. There, each on his couch 
of honour, lie those who were once the flower of our 



152 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

host. There Hes the gallant Frazer, the dauntless 
Ferguson, the accomplished Donop, and that pride of 
youth, the generous Andre, with thousands equally- 
brave and good. But, O! ye dear partners of this 
cruel strife, though fallen, ye are not forgotten ! Often, 
with tears do we see you still, as when you rejoiced 
with us at the feast, or fought by our sides in battle. 
But vain was all our valour. God fought for Wash- 
ington. Hence our choicest troops are fallen before 
him; and we, the sad remains of war, are now return- 
ing, inglorious, to our native shores. Land of the 
graves of Heroes, farewell! Ghosts of the noble 
dead! chide not the steps of our departure! ye are 
left: but it is in the land of brothers, who often 
mourned the death which their valour gave. But now 
the unnatural strife is past, and peace returns. And 
O ! with peace may that spirit return which once 
warmed the hearts of Americans towards their British 
brethren, when the sight of our tall ships was wont to 
spread joy along their shores ; and when the planter, 
viewing his cotton-covered fields, rejoiced that he was 
preparing employment and bread for thousands of the 
poor!!" 

The hostile fleets and armies thus withdrawn, and 
the Independence of his country acknowledged; Wash- 
ington proceeded, at the command of Congress, to dis- 
band the army! To this event, though of all others 
the dearest to his heart, he had ever looked forward 
with trembling anxiety. Loving his soldiers as his 
children, how could he tell them the painful truth 
which the poverty of his country had imposed on 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 153 

him? How could he tell them, that after all they 
had done and suffered with him, they must now ground 
their arms, and return home, many of them without 
a decent suit on their backs, or a penny in their 
pockets? 

But he was saved the pain of making this com- 
munication ; for they soon received it from another 
quarter, and with circumstances calculated to kindle 
the fiercest indignation against their country. Letters 
were industriously circulated through the army, paint- 
ing in the strongest colours, their unparalleled suffer- 
ings, and the ingratitude of Congress. 

" Confiding in her honour," said the writer, " did 
you not cheerfully enlist in the service of your coun- 
try, and for her dear sake encounter all the evils of a 
soldier's life? Have you not beaten the ice-bound 
road full many a wintry day, without a shoe to your 
bleeding feet; and wasted the long bitter night, with- 
out a tent, to shelter your heads from the pelting 
storm? Have you not borne the brunt of many a 
bloody fight, and, from the hands of hard struggling 
foes, torn the glorious prize, your country's indepen- 
dence? And now after all — after wasting in her 
service the flower of your days — with bodies broken 
under arms, and bones with the pains and aches of a 
seven years' war, will you suffer yourselves to be 
sent home in rags to your families, to spend the sad 
remains of life in poverty and scorn? — No! my 
brothers in arms ! I trust you will not. I trust you 
bear no such coward minds. I trust, that after hav- 
ing fought so bravely for the rights of others, you 



154 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

will now fight as bravely for your own rights. And 
now is the accepted time and golden hour of redress, 
while you have weapons in your hands, the strength 
of an army to support you, and a beloved general at 
your head, ready to lead you to that justice which 
you owe to yourselves, and, which you have so long 
but vainly expected from an ungrateful country." 

These letters produced, as might have been ex- 
pected, a most alarming effect. Rage, like a fire in 
secret, began to burn throughout the camp. Wash- 
ington soon perceived it. He discovered it in his 
soldiers, as, gathered into groups, they stood and 
murmured over their grievances, while, with furious 
looks and gestures, they stamped on the earth, and 
hurled their curses against Congress. Gladdening at 
such success of his first letters, the writer instantly 
sent around a second series, still more artful and in- 
flammatory than the first. The passions of the army 
now rose to a height that threatened instantaneous 
explosion. But still their eyes, beaming reverence 
and love, were turned towards their honoured chief, 
to whom they had ever looked as to a father. 

Often had they marked his tears, as, visiting their 
encampments, he beheld them suffering and sinking 
under fevers and fluxes, for want of clothes and pro- 
visions. Often, had they hushed their complaints, 
trusting to his promises that Congress would still 
remember them. But behold ! his promises and their 
hopes are all alike abortive ! 

And will not Washington, the friend of justice and 
father of his army, avenge them on a government 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 155 

which has thus basely defrauded them, and deceived 
him? There needed but a glance of his approbation 
to set the whole army in motion. Instantly with fixed 
bayonets they would have hurled the hated Congress 
from their seats, and placed their beloved Washing- 
ton on the throne of St. Tammany. Here, no doubt, 
the tempter flashed the dangerous diadem before the 
eyes of our countrymen. But religion at the same 
time, pointed him to the great lover of order, holding 
up that crown, in comparison of which the diadems 
of kings are but dross. Animated with such hopes 
he had long cherished that ardent philanthropy which 
sighs for liberty to all countries, and especially to his 
own. For Liberty he had fought and conquered ; and 
now considered it, with all its blessings, as at hand. 
" Yet a little while, and America shall become the glory 
of the earth— a nation of Brothers, enjoying the golden 
reign of equal laws, and rejoicing under their own 
vine and fig-tree, and no tyrant to make them afraid. 
And shall these glorious prospects be darkened? shall 
they be darkened by Washington? shall he, ever the 
friend of his country, become her bitterest enemy, by 
fixing upon her again the iron yoke of monarchy? 
shall he ! the father of his army, become their assassin, 
by establishing a government that shall swallow up 
their liberties for ever? " 

The idea filled his soul with horror. Instead, there- 
fore, of tamely yielding to the wishes of his army to 
their own ruin, he bravely opposes them to their true 
good : and instead of drinking in, with traitorous 
smile, the hozannas that would have made him king, 
he darkens his brow of parental displeasure at their 



156 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

impiety. He flies to extinguish their rising rebellion. 
He addresses letters to the officers of the army, desiring 
them to meet him at an appointed time and place. 
Happily for America, the voice of Washington still 
sounded in their ears, as the voice of a father. His 
officers, to a man, all gathered around him ; while, with 
a countenance inspiring veneration and love, he arose 
and addressed the eager listening chiefs. He began 
with reminding them of the great object for which 
they had first drawn their swords, i.e., the liberty of 
their country. He applauded that noble spirit with 
which they had submitted to so many privations — 
combated so many dangers — and overcome so many 
difficulties. And now, said he, after having thus waded, 
like Israel of old, through a red sea of blood, and 
withstood the thundering Sinais of British fury ; after 
having crushed the fiery serpents of Indian rifles, and 
trampled down those insidious Amalekites, the tories — 
after having travelled through a howling wilderness of 
war, and, with the ark of your country's liberties in 
camp, safely arrived on the borders of Canaan, and in 
sight of the glorious end of all your labours, will you 
now give yourselves up the dupes of a " British emis- 
sary, and for the sordid flesh-pots of a few months' 
pay, rush into civil war, and fall back to a worse than 
Egyptian bondage? No! my brave countrymen: I 
trust you will not: I trust, that an army so famed 
throughout the world for patriotism, will yet main- 
tain its reputation. I trust, that your behaviour on 
this last, this most trying occasion, will fill up the 
measure of your heroism, and stamp the American 
character with never dying fame. You have achieved 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 157 

miracles. But a greater miracle still remains to be 
achieved. We have had the glory to conquer our 
enemies ; now for the greater glory to conquer our- 
selves. Other armies, after subduing the enemies of 
their country, have themselves, for power and plunder, 
become her tyrants, and trampled her liberties under 
foot. Be it our nobler ambition, after sufferings 
unparalleled for our needy country, to return cheerful, 
though penniless, to our homes; and patiently wait 
the rewards which her gratitude will, one day, assuredly 
bestow. In the mean time, beating our swords into 
ploughshares, and our bayonets into reaping hooks, 
let us, as peaceful citizens, cultivate those fields from 
which, as victorious soldiers, we lately' drove the 
enemy. Thence, as from the noblest of theatres, you 
will display a spectacle of patriotism never seen before. 
You will teach the delighted world, that men are 
capable of finding a heaven in noble actions : and you 
will give occasion to posterity to say, when speaking 
of your present behaviour, had this day been wanting, 
the triumph of our fathers' virtues would have been 
incomplete." 

As he spoke, his cheeks, naturally pale, were red- 
dened over with virtue's pure vermillion : while his 
eyes, of cerulean blue, were kindled up with those 
indescribable fires which fancy lends to an angel orator, 
animating poor mortals, to the sublimest of god-like 
deeds. His words, were not in vain. From lips of 
wisdom, and long-tried love, like his, such counsel 
wrought as though an oracle had spoken. Instantly 
a committee of the whole was formed, with General 
Knox at their head, who, in thirty minutes, reported 



158 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the following resolutions, which were unanimously 
adopted : 

" Resolved — that having engaged in the war from 
motives of the purest love and zeal for the rights of 
man, no circumstance of distress or danger shall ever 
induce us to sully the glory we have acquired at the 
price of our blood, and eight years' faithful service. 

" Resolved — that we continue to have an unshaken 
confidence in the justice of congress and our country. 

" Resolved — that we view with abhorrence, and 
reject with disdain, the infamous proposition contained 
in a late anonymous address to the officers of the 
army." 

The officers then hasted back to their troops, who 
had been impatiently expecting them ; and related 
Washington's speech. They also stated as his firm 
conviction, that " the claims of every soldier would be 
liquidated ; his accounts accurately ascertained ; and 
adequate funds provided for the payment of them, 
as soon as the circumstances of the nation would permit. 

The soldiers listened to this communication with 
attention : and heard the close of it without a mur- 
mur. " They had no great opinion, they said, of 
congress — but having gone such lengths for duty and 
old George, they supposed they might as well now 
go a little farther, and make thorough work of it. A 
little pay would, to be sure, have been very welcome : 
and it was a poor military chest that could not afford 
a single dollar, especially as some of them had hun- 
dreds of miles to travel to reach their homes. But 
surely the people won't let us starve for a meal's 
victuals by the way, especially after we have been so 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 159 

long fighting their battles. So, in God's name, we'll 
even shoulder our knapsacks whenever our general 
shall say the word." 

The next day the breaking up of the army began, 
which was conducted in the following manner: The 
troops after breakfast were ordered under arms. On 
receiving notice that they were ready to move, Wash- 
ington with his aids, rode out on the plains of their 
encampment, where he sat on his horse awaiting their 
arrival. The troops got in motion, and with fifes and 
muffled drums playing the mournful air of Roslin 
Castle, marched up for the last time, into his presence. 
Every countenance was shrouded in sorrow. At a 
signal given, they grounded their arms. Then, waving 
their hats, and faintly crying out " God save great 
Washington," through watery eyes they gave him a 
long adieu, and wheeled off in files for their native 
homes. With pensive looks his eye pursued them as 
they retired, wide spreading over the fields. But when 
he saw those brave troops who had so long obeyed 
him, and who had just given such an evidence of their 
affection — when he saw them slowly descending behind 
the distant hills, shortly to disappear for ever, then 
nature stirred all the father within him, and gave him 
up to tears. But he wept not " as those without hope." 
He rejoiced in the remembrance of him who treasures 
up the toils of the virtuous, and will, one day, bestow 
that reward which, " this world cannot give." 

But the whole army was not disbanded at once. 
Shortly after this he went down to New York, to 
finish what remained of his duty as commander in 



160 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

chief, and to prepare to return home. On the last 
day that he was there, it being known that he meant 
to set out for Virginia at one o'clock, all his officers, 
who happened to be in town, assembled at Francis's 
tavern, where he lodged, to bid him a last farewell. 
About half after twelve o'clock the general entered 
the room, where an elegant collation was spread : but 
none tasted it. Conversation was attempted: but it 
failed. As the clock struck one, the general went to 
the side-board, and filling out some wine, turned to 
his officers, and begged they would join him in a 
glass. Then, with a look of sorrow and a faltering 
voice, he said, " Well my brave brothers in arms, we 
part — perhaps to meet in this life no more. And now 
I pray God to take you all in his holy keeping, and 
render your latter days as prosperous as the past have 
been glorious." 

Soon as they had drunk, he beckoned to General 
Knox, who approached and pressed his hand in tears 
of delicious silence. The officers all followed his 
example ; while their manly cheeks, swollen with grief, 
bespoke sensations too strong for utterance. This 
tender scene being over, he moved towards the door, 
followed by his officers. By this time the street from 
the hotel to the river was filled with light infantry, and 
thousands of citizens, who all attended him in silence 
to the water-side, where he was to take boat. Here 
another pleasing proof of esteem was given him. In- 
stead of the common ferry boat, a barge magnificently 
decorated, was ready to receive him, with the American 
jack and colors flying, and manned with thirteen sea 
captains, all in elegant blue uniforms. On stepping 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 161 

aboard the barge, he turned towards the people, who 
stood in vast crowds on the shore : and waving his hat, 
bade them a silent adieu, which they in like solemn 
manner returned, all waving their hats, and without 
speaking a word. Having received their honoured 
freight, the sons of Neptune, ready with well poised 
oars, leap forward to the coxswain's call ; then, all at 
once falling back, with sudden stroke they flash their 
bending blades into the yielding flood. Swift at their 
stroke the barge sprung from the shore ; and, under 
the music of echoing row-locks, flew through the waves, 
followed by the eager gaze of the pensive thousands. 
The sighing multitude then turned away from the 
shore with feelings whose source they did not, per- 
haps, understand. But some, on returning to their 
homes, spoke to their listening children of what they 
had seen, and of the honours which belong to such 
virtue as Washington's. 

He lodged that night at Elizabethtowrt, fifteen 
miles from New York. The next morning, elate 
with thoughts of home, he ascended his chariot; and 
with bounding steeds drove on his way through the 
lovely country of New Jersey. This no doubt, was 
the pleasantest ride by far that he had known since 
the dark days of '75. For though joyless winter was 
spread abroad, with her cold clouds, and winds shrill 
whistling over the flowerless fields ; yet to his patriot 
eye the face of nature shone brighter than in latter 
years, when clad in springtide green and gold — for it 
was covered over with the bright mantle of peace. 
His shoulders were freed from the burden of public 
cares, and his heart from the anxieties of supreme 
11 



162 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

command. With a father's joy he could look around 
on the thick settled country, with alLits little ones, 
and flocks, and herds, now no longer exposed to danger. 

"Happy farmers! the long winter of war is past 
and gone — the spring time of peace is returned, and 
the voice of her dove is heard in our land. Restore 
your wasted farms. Spread abroad the fertilizing 
manure : and prepare again to crown your war worn 
fields with joyful crops. 

" Happy children ! now pour forth again in safety 
to your schools. Treasure up the golden knowledge ; 
and make yourselves the future glory and guardians 
of your country. 

" Happy citizens ! hasten to rebuild the ruined 
temples of your God. And lift your glad songs to Him, 
the great ruler of war, who aided your feeble arms, and 
trampled down the mighty enemy beneath your feet." 

But often, amidst these happy thoughts, the swift- 
wheeled chariot would bring him in view of fields on 
which his bleeding memory could not dwell without a 
tear. " There the battling armies met in thunder. The 
stormy strife was short. But yonder mournful hillocks 
point the place where many of our brave heroes sleep; 
perhaps some good angel has whispered that their fall 
was not in vain." 

On his journey homewards, he stopped for a mo- 
ment at Philadelphia, to do an act, which to a mind 
proudly honest like his, must have been a sublime treat. 
He stopped to present to the comptroller-general an 
account of all the public moneys which he had spent. 
Though this account was in his own hand writing, 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 163 

and accompanied with the proper vouchers, yet it will 
hardly be credited by European statesmen and generals, 
that, in the course of an eight years' war, he had spent 
only 12,497/. 8s. gd. sterling!! 

From Philadelphia he hastened on to Annapolis, 
where Congress was then in session, that he might re- 
turn to that honourable body the commission with 
which they had entrusted him. 

Having always disliked parade, he wished to make 
his resignation in writing. But Congress, it seems, 
willed otherwise. To see a man voluntarily giving 
up power, was a spectacle not to be met with every 
day. And that they might have the pleasure of see- 
ing him in this last, and perhaps greatest, act of his 
public life, they expressed a wish to receive his resigna- 
tion from his own hand at a full audience. The next 
day, the 23d of December, 1783, was appointed for the 
purpose. At an early hour the house was crowded. 
The members of Congress, with the grandees of the 
land, filled the floors. The ladies sparkled in the 
galleries. At eleven o'clock, Washington was ushered 
into the house, and conducted to a seat which had been 
prepared for him, covered with red velvet. After a 
becoming pause, and information given by the presi- 
dent, that the United States in Congress assembled 
were ready to receive his communication, he arose ; 
and with great .brevity and modesty observed, that he 
had presented himself before them, to resign into their 
hands with satisfaction the commission which, eight 
years before, he had accepted with diffidence. He 
begged to ofifer them his sincerest congratulations for 
the glorious result of their united struggles; took no 



164 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

part of the praise to himself; but ascribed all to the- 
blessing of Heaven on the exertions of the nation. 
Then fervently commending his dearest country to the 
protection of Almighty God, he bade them an affec- 
tionate farewell ; and taking leave of all the employ- 
ments of public life, surrendered up his commission! 
Seldom has there been exhibited so charming a 
display of the power which pre-eminent virtue pos- 
sesses over the human heart, as on this occasion. Short 
and simple as was the speech of Washington, yet it 
seems to have carried back every trembling imagina- 
tion to the fearful days of '75, when the British fleets 
and armies were thundering on our coasts, and when 
nothing was talked of but slavery, confiscation, and 
executions. And now they saw before them the man 
to whom they all looked for safety in that gloomy 
time — who had completely answered their fond hopes 
— who had stood by them incorruptible and unshaken — 
had anticipated their mighty enemy in all his plans — 
had met him at every point — had thwarted, defeated, 
and blasted all his hopes — and, victory after victory 
won, had at length laid his strong legions in. dust or 
in chains — and had secured to his country a glorious 
independence, with the fairest chance of being one 
of the most respectable and happy nations of the earth 
— and, in consequence of all this, had so completely 
won the hearts of his army and his nation, that he 
could perhaps have made himself their master. At all 
events, a Csesar or a Cromwell would, at the hazard 
of a million of lives, made the sacrilegious attempt. 
Yet they now saw this man scorning to abuse his 
power to the degradation of his country, — but on the 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 1G5 

contrary, treating her with the most sacred respect — 
dutifully bowing before her delegated presence, the 
congress — cheerfully returning the commission she had 
entrusted him with — piously laying down his extensive 
powers at her feet — and modestly falling back into the 
humble condition of the rest of her children. The 
sight of their great countryman, already so beloved, 
and now acting so generous, so godlike a part, pro- 
duced an effect beyond the power of words to express. 
Their feelings of admiration and affection were too 
delicious, too big for utterance. Every countenance 
was swollen with sentiment ; and delicious tears mois- 
tened every eye, which, though a silent, was perhaps 
the richest offering of veneration and esteem ever 
paid to a human being. 

Having discharged this last great debt to his coun- 
try, the next morning early he ascended his chariot; 
and listened with joy to the rattling wheels, now run- 
ning off his last day's journey to Mount Vernon. Ah ! 
could gloomy tyrants but feel what Washington felt 
that day, when, sweeping along the road, with grateful 
heart, he revolved the mighty work which he had 
finished — his country saved and his conscience clear; 
they would tear off the accursed purple, and starting 
from their blood-stained thrones, like Washington, 
seek true happiness in making others happy. 

O Washington ! thrice glorious name, 

What due rewards can man decree? 

Empires are far below thy aim, 

And sceptres have no charms for thee; 

Duty alone has thy regard. 

In her thou seek'st thy great reward. 



CHAPTER XI 

Washington again on his farm — sketch of his conduct there — 
suggests the importance of inland navigation — companies 
forming — urges a reform of the old constitution — ap- 
pointed President of the United States — great difficulties 
to encounter — ^gloriously surmounts them. 

To be happy in every situation is a proof of wis- 
dom seldom afforded by man. Ii proves that the 
heart is set on that which alone can ever completely 
satisfy it, i.e., the imitation of God in benevolent and 
useful life. This was the happy case with Washington. 
To establish in his country the golden reign of 
liberty is his grand wish. In the accomplishment of 
this he seeks his happiness. He abhors war; but, if 
war be necessary, to this end he bravely encounters 
it. His ruling passion must be obeyed. He beat his 
ploughshare into a sword, and exchanged the peace 
and pleasures of his farm for the din and dangers of 
the camp. Having won the great prize for which he 
contended, he returns to his plough. His military 
habits are laid by with the same ease as he would 
throw off an old coat. The camp with all its parade 
and noise, is forgotten. He awakes, in his silent 
chambers at Mount Vernon, without sighing for the 
sprightly drums and fifes that used to salute him 
every morning. Happy among his domestics, he 
does not regret the shining ranks of patriot soldiers 
that used to pay him homage. The useful citizen is 
the high character he wishes to act — his sword turned 
166 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 167 

into a ploughshare is his favourite instrument; and 
his beloved farm his stage. Agriculture had been 
always his delight. To breathe the pure healthful 
air of a farm, perfumed with odorous flowers, and 
enriched with golden harvests, and with numerous 
flocks and herds, appeared to him a life nearest con- 
nected with individual and national happiness. To 
this great object he turns all his attention — bends all 
his exertions. He writes to the inost skilful farmers, 
not only in America, but in England (for Washing- 
ton was incapable of bearing malice against a people 
who had been reconciled to his country) ; he writes, 
I say, to the ablest farmers in America and England, 
for instructions how best to cultivate and improve 
his lands — what grains, what grasses, what manures 
would best suit his soils ; what shrubs are fittest for 
fences, and what animals for labour. 

But, to a soul large and benevolent like his, to 
beautify his own farm, and to enrich his own family, 
seemed like doing nothing. To see the whole nation 
engaged in glorious toils, filling themselves with 
plenty, and inundating the sea ports with food and 
raiment for the poor and needy of distant nations — 
this was his godlike ambition. But, knowing that his 
beloved countrymen could not long enjoy the honour 
and advantage of such glorious toils, unless they 
could easily convey their swelling harvests to their own 
markets, he hastened to rouse them to a proper sense 
of the infinite importance of forming canals and cuts 
between all the fine rivers that run through the 
United States. To give the greater weight to his coun- 



168 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

sel, he had first ascended the sources of those great 
rivers — ascertained the distance between them — the 
obstacles in the way of navigation — and the probable 
expense of removing them. 

Agreeably to his wishes, two wealthy companies 
were soon formed to extend the navigation of James 
River and Potomac, the noblest rivers in Virginia. 
Struck with the exceeding benefit which both them- 
selves and their country would speedily derive from 
a plan which he had not only suggested, but had 
taken such pains and expense to recommend, they 
pressed him to accept one hundred and fifty shares 
of the company's stock, amounting to near 40,000 
dollars ! But he instantly refused it, saying, " what 
will the world think if they should hear that I have 
taken 40,000 dollars for this affair ? Will they not be 
apt to suspect, on my next proposition, that money 
is my motive? Thus, for the sake of money, which 
indeed I never coveted from my country, I may lose 
the power to do her some service, which may be worth 
more than all money ! ! " 

But, while engaged in this goodly work, he was 
suddenly alarmed by the appearance of an evil, which 
threatened to put an end to all his well-meant labours 
for ever — this was, the incipient dissolution of the 
federal government!! The framers of that fair but 
flimsy fabric, having put it together according to the 
square and compass of equal rights, and mutual in- 
terests, thought they had done enough. The good 
sense and virtue of the nation, it was supposed, would 
form a foundation of rock whereon it would safelji 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 169 

rest, in spite of all commotions, foreign or domestic. 

" But, alas ! " said Washington, " experience has 
shown, that men unless constrained, will seldom do 
what is for their own good. With joy I once beheld 
my country feeling the liveliest sense of her rights, 
and maintaining them with a spirit apportioned to 
their worth. With joy I have seen all the wise men 
of Europe looking on her with admiration, and all the 
good with hope, that her fair example would regen- 
erate the whole world, and restore the blessings of 
equal government to long oppressed humanity. But 
alas ! in place of maintaining this glorious attitude, 
America is herself rushing into disorder and dissolu- 
tion. We have powers sufficient for self-defence and 
glory; but those powers are not exerted. For fear 
congress should abuse it, the people will not trust 
their power with congress. Foreigners insult and 
injure us with impunity ; for congress has no power 
to chastise them. — Ambitious men stir tip factions. 
Congress possesses no power to coerce them. Public 
creditors call for their money. Congress has no 
power to collect it. In short, we cannot long subsist 
as a nation, without lodging somewhere a power 
that may command the full energies of the nation for 
defence from all its enemies, and for the supply of all 
its wants. The people will soon be tired of such a 
government. They will sigh for a change : and many 
of them already begin to talk of monarchy, without 
horror ! " 

In this, as in all cases of apprehended danger, his 
pen knew no rest. The leading characters of the 



170 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

nation were roused : and a convention was formed, 
of deputies from the several states, to revise and 
amend the general government. Of this convention 
Washington was unanimously chosen president. — 
Their session commenced in Philadelphia, May, 1787, 
and ended in October. The fruit of their six months' 
labour was the present excellent constitution, which 
was no sooner adopted, than the eyes of the whole 
nation were fixed on him for president. 

Being now in his 57th year, and wedded to his 
farm and family, he had no wish to enter again into 
the cares and dangers of public life. Ease was now 
become almost as necessary as it was dear to him. 
His reputation was already at the highest; and as to 
money, in the service of his country he had always 
refused it. These things considered, together with his 
acknowledged modesty and disinterestedness, we can 
hardly doubt the correctness of his declaration, that, 
" the call to the magistracy was the most unwelcome 
he had ever heard." 

However, as soon as it was officially notified to 
him, in the spring of 1789, that he was unanimously 
elected President of the United States, and that Con- 
gress, then sitting in New York, was impatient to see 
him in the chair, he set out for that city. Then all 
along the roads where he passed, were seen the most 
charming proofs of that enthusiasm with which the 
hearts of all delighted to honour him. If it was only 
said, " General Washington is coming," it was enough. 
The inhabitants all hastened from their houses to the 
highways, to have a sight of their great countryman; 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 171 

while the people of the towns, hearing of his approach, 
sallied out, horse and foot, to meet him. In eager 
throngs, men, women and children, pressed upon his 
steps, as waves in crowding ridges pursue the course 
of a ship through the ocean. And as a new succes- 
sion of waves is ever ready to take the place of those 
which have just ended their chase in playful foam, 
so it was with the ever-gathering crowds that followed 
their Washington. 

" On reaching the western banks of the Schuylkill," 
said a gentleman who was present, " I was astonished 
at the concourse of people that overspread the coun- 
try, apparently from Gray's ferry to the city. Indeed 
one would have thought that the whole population of 
Philadelphia was come out to meet him. And to see 
so many thousands of people on foot, on horseback, 
and in coaches, all voluntarily waiting upon and mov- 
ing along with one man, struck me with strangely 
agreeable sensations. Surely, thought I, there must be 
a divinity in goodness, that mankind should thus 
delight to honour it," 

His reception at Trenton was more than flattering. 
It was planned, they said, by the ladies, and indeed 
bore marks that it could have been done only by 
them. The reader must remember, that it was near 
this place that the fair sex in '76 suffered such cruel 
indignities from the enemy; and that it was here 
that Providence in the same year enabled Washington 
so severely to chastise them for it. The women are 
not apt to forget their benefactors. Hearing that 
Washington was on his way to Trenton, they instantly 



172 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

held a caucus among themselves, to devise ways and 
means to display their gratitude to him. Under their 
direction, the bridge over the Sanpink (a narrow- 
creek running through Trenton, upon whose opposite 
banks Washington and the British once fought), was 
decorated with a triumphal arch, with this inscription 
in large figures: 

DECEMBER 26, 1776. 

THE HERO WHO DEFENDED THE MOTHERS, 

WILL ALSO PROTECT THE DAUGHTERS. 

He approached the bridge on its south side, amidst 
the heartiest shouts of congratulating thousands, while 
on the north side were drawn up several hundreds of 
little girls, dressed in snow-white robes with temples 
adorned with garlands, and baskets of ffowers on their 
arms. Just behind them stood long rows of young 
virgins, whose fair faces, of sweetest red and white, 
highly animated by the occasion, looked quite angelic — 
and, behind them in crowds, stood their venerable 
mothers. As Washington slowly drove off the bridge, 
the female voices all began, sweet as the first wakings 
of the Eolian harp: and thus they rolled the song: 

" Welcome, mighty chief ! once more 
Welcome to this grateful shore. 
Now no mercenary foe 
Aims again the fatal blow, 
Aims at thee the fatal blow. 

Virgins fair, and matrons grave, 
(These thy conquering arm did save!) 
Build for thee triumphal bowers, 
Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers ; 
Strew your hero's way with flowers. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 173 

While singing the last lines, they strewed the way 
with flowers before him. 

Some have said that they could see in his altered 
looks, that he remembered the far different scenes of 
'76; for that they saw him wipe a tear. No doubt 
it was the sweet tear of gratitude to him who had 
preserved him to see this happy day. 

At New York the behaviour of the citizens was 
equally expressive of the general veneration and es- 
teem. The ships in the harbour were all dressed 
in their flags and streamers; and the wharves where 
he landed were richly decorated. At the water's edge 
he was received by an immense concourse of the 
joyful citizens ; and, amidst the mingled thunder of 
guns and acclamations, was conducted to his lodg- 
ings. Such honours, would have intoxicated most 
men; but to a mind like his, habitually conversant 
with the far sublimer subjects of the Christian philo- 
sophy, they must have looked quite puerile. Indeed 
it appears from a note made in his journal that very 
evening, that he regarded all these marks of public 
favour rather as calls to humility than pride. " The 
display of boats on this occasion," says he, " with 
vocal and instrumental music on board, the decora- 
tions of the ships, the roar of cannon, and the loud 
acclamations of the people, as I passed along the 
wharves, gave me as much pain as pleasure, con- 
templating the probable reverse of this scene after 
all my endeavour to do good." 

It was on the 23d of April, 1789, that he arrived 
in New York: and on the 30th, after taking the oath, 



174 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

as president of the United States, to preserve, protect, 
and defend the constitution, he entered upon the duties 
of his office. 

As things then stood, even his bitterest enemies, if 
he had any, might have said, " happy man be his 
dole ! " for he came to the helm in a perilous and 
fearful season. Like chaos, " in the olden time," our 
government was " without form and void : and dark- 
ness dwelt upon the face of the deep." Enemies 
innumerable threatened the country, both from within 
and without, abroad and at home — the people of three 
continents at daggers drawn with the young republic 
of America! 

The pirates of Morocco laying their uncircumcised 
hands on our rich commerce in the Mediterranean. 

The British grumbling and threatening war. 

The Spaniards shutting up the Mississippi ! 

The Kentuckians in great warmth, threatening to 
break the Union, and join the Spaniards ! 

The Indian nations, from Canada to Georgia, un- 
burying the tomahawk ! 

North Carolina and Rhode Island, blowing on the 
confederacy! strong parties in other states against it! 
— and an alarming insurrection in Massachusetts! 
While, to combat all these enemies, the United States 
had but 600 regular troops!! and, though eighty 
millions of dollars in debt, they had not one cent in 
the treasury!!! Here certainly, if ever, was the time 
to try a man's soul. But Washington despaired not. 
Glowing with the love of his country, and persuaded 
that his country still enjoyed an opportunity to be 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 175 

great and happy, he resolved, whatever it might cost 
him, that nothing should be wanting on his part to 
fill up the measure of her glory. But first of all, in 
his inaugural speech, he called upon Congress and 
his countrymen, to look up to God for his blessing; 
next, as to themselves, to be most industrious, hon- 
ourable, and united, as became men responsible to 
ages yet unborn, for all the blessings of a republican 
government, now, and perhaps for the last time, at 
stake, on their wisdom and virtue; — then as to him- 
self : " I feel," said he, " my incompetency of political 
skill and abilities. Integrity and firmness are all I 
can promise. These, I know, will never forsake me, 
although I may be deserted by all men: and of the 
consolations to be derived from these, under no cir- 
cumstances can the world ever deprive me." — And 
last of all, as in a crazy ship at sea, tossed by furious 
winds, no pilot can save without the aid of able sea- 
men, Washington prudently rallied around him the 
wisest of all his countrymen. 

Mr. Jefiferson, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. 
Col. Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury. 
Gen. Knox, Secretary of War. 
Edmund Randolph, Attorney General. 
John Jay, Chief Justice. 
John Rutledge, ") 



James Wilson, 
John Gushing, 
Robert Harrison, 
John Blair, 



Associate Judges 



176 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

These judicious preparations being made for the 
storm, (Heaven's blessing invoked, and the ablest 
pilots embarked with him,) Washington then seized 
the helm, with a gallant hard-a-lee ; luffed up his ship 
at once to the gale, hoping yet to shoot the hideous 
gulfs that threatened all around. 

His first attention was turned to the call of Hu- 
manity, i.e., to satisfy and make peace with the In- 
dians. This was soon done; partly by presents, and 
by establishing, in their country, houses of fair trade, 
which, by preventing frauds, prevent those grudges 
that lead to private murders, and thence to public 
disturbances and wars. Some of the Indian tribes, 
despising these friendly efforts of Washington, were 
obliged to be drubbed into peace, which service was 
done for them by General Wayne, in 1794 — but not 
until many lives had been lost in preceding defeats; 
owing chiefly, it was said, to the very intemperate 
passions and potations of some of their officers. How- 
ever, after the first shock, the loss of these poor 
souls was not much lamented. Tall young fellows, 
who could easily get their half dollar a day at the 
healthful and glorious labours of the plough, to go 
and enlist and rust among the lice and itch of a camp, 
for four dollars a month, were certainly not worth 
their country's crying about. 

Washington's friendly overtures to Spain were 
equally fortunate. Believing that he desired nothing 
but what was perfectly just, and what both God and 
man would support him in, she presently agreed to 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 177 

iiegKJciate. The navigation ot" the Mississippi was 
given up. The Kentuckians were satisfied : and Spain 
and the United States Hved on good terms all the rest 
of his days. 

Washington then tried his hands with the British. 
But alas! he soon found that they were not made of 
such pliable stuff as the Indians and Spaniards. Nor 
had he the British alone to complain of. He presently 
found it as hard to satisfy his own countrymen, in 
the matter of a treaty, as to please them. 

For whether it was that the two nations still re- 
tained a most unchristian recollection of what they 
had suffered from one another during the past war — 
or whether, more unchristianly still, they felt the 
odious spirit of rivals, and sickened at each other's 
prosperity — or whether each nation thought that the 
ships of the other were navigated by their seamen, 
but so it was, that the prejudices of the two people, 
though sprung from the same progenitors, ran so high 
as to render it extremely difficult for Washington to 
settle matters between them. But it was at length 
happily effected, without the horrors of another war. 
Though the treaty which brought about this desirable 
event was entirely execrated by great numbers of 
sensible and honest men no doubt, yet Washington, 
led, as he says, by duty and humanity, ratified it. 

If the signing of the treaty displayed his firmness, 

the operation of it has, perhaps, shown his wisdom. 

For, surely, since that time, no country like this ever 

so progressed in the public and private blessings of 

12 



178 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

industr}', wealth, population, and morals. Whether 
greater, or, indeed, equal blessings would have re- 
sulted from a bloody war with England at that time, 
let others determine. 

But scarcely had Washington got clear of his em- 
barrassments with Britain, before still worse were 
thrown in his way by France. 

The cause was this : " The French army," as 
Doctor Franklin observes, " having served an appren- 
ticeship to Liberty, in America, on going back to 
France, set up for themselves." Throughout the king- 
dom, wherever they went, they could talk of nothing 
but the Americans. " Ah, happy people ! " said they, 
" neither oppressing nor oppressed, they mingle to- 
gether as one great family of brothers. Every man is 
free. Every man labours for himself, and wipes with 
joy the sweat from his brow, because 'tis the earnest 
of plenteous food and clothing, education, and de- 
lights, for his children ! " 

The people every where listened with eagerness 
to these descriptions of American happiness, and 
sighed to think of their own wretchedness. The 
smothered fire soon broke out. The press teemed 
with papers and pamphlets on the rights of Man — 
the true ends of government, — and the blessings of 
Liberty. The eyes of the great nation were presently 
opened to a sight of her degraded and wretched state. 
Then suddenly springing up, like a mighty giantess 
from the hated bed of violation and dishonour, she 
began a course of vengeance as terrible as it had been 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 179 

long delayed. The unfortunate king and queen were 
quickly brought low. The heads of her tyrants every 
where bounded on the floors of the guillotine; while 
in every place dogs licked the blood of nobles: and 
the bodies of great lords were scattered like dung 
over the face of the earth. 

Fearing that if France were suffered to go on at 
this rate, there would not in a little time, be a crown 
left in Europe, the crowned heads all confederated 
to arrest her progress. The whole surrounding world, 
both by land and water, was in commotion: and 
tremendous fleets and armies poured in from every 
side, to overwhelm her. With unanimity and valour 
equal to their dangers, the war-loving Gauls rushed 
forth in crowding millions to meet their foes. The 
mighty armies joined in battle, appearing to the ter- 
rified eye, as if the whole human race were rushing 
together for mutual destruction. But not content with 
setting the eastern world on fire, the furious combatants 
(like Milton's warring Spirits tearing up and flinging 
mountains and islands at each other) flew to America 
to seize and drag her into their war. 

Flaming on this errand, Mr. Genet lighted on 
our continent as an envoy from France. He was 
received with joy as a brother republican. The people 
every where welcomed him as the representative of a 
beloved nation, to whom, under God, they owed their 
liberties. Grand dinners were given — sparkling bum- 
pers were filled — and standing up round the vast con- 
vivial board, with joined hands, and cheeks glowing 



180 THE LITE OF WASHINGTON 

with friendship and the generous juice, they rent the 
air with — " health and fraternity to the sister republics 
of France and America." 

Washington joined in the general hospitality to the 
stranger. He extolled the valour, and congratulated 
the victories of his brave countrymen. " Bom, sir," 
said he, " in a land of Liberty, for whose sake I have 
spent the best years of my life in war, I cannot but 
feel a trembling anxiety whenever I see an oppressed 
people drawing their swords and rearing aloft the 
sacred banners of freedom." 

Enraptured at finding in America such a cordial 
spirit towards his country, Mr. Genet instantly set 
himself to call it into the fullest exertion. And by 
artfully ringing the changes on British cruelty, and 
French generosity, to the Americans, he so far suc- 
ceeded as to prevail on some persons in Charleston 
to commence the equipment of privateers against the 
British. Dazzled by the lustre of false gratitude to 
one nation, they lost sight of their horrid injustice 
to another: and during the profoundest peace between 
England and America, when the American planters, 
by their flour, rice, and cotton, were making money 
almost as fast as if they had mints upon their estates ; 
and when, on the other hand, the British artisans were 
driving on their manufactures day and night for the 
Americans — in this sacred season and blissful state of 
things, certain persons in Charleston began , to equip 
privateers against England. 

Grieved that his countrymen should be capable of 
such an outrage against justice, against humanity, and 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 181 

every thing sacred among men; and equally grieved 
to see them so far forget, so far belittle themselves as 
to become willing cat's paws of one nation, to tear 
another to pieces, he instantly issued his proclamation, 
stating it as the " duty, and therefore the interest of 
the United States, to preserve the strictest neutrality 
between the belligerents : and prohibiting the citizens 
of the United States, from all manner of interference 
in the unhappy contest." 

This so enraged Mr. Genet, that he threatened to 
appeal from the president to the people ! i.e., in plain 
English, to try to overthrow the government of the 
United States ! ! 

But, thank God, the American people were too 
wise and virtuous to hear these things without feeling 
and expressing a suitable indignation. They rallied 
around their beloved president; and soon gave this 
most inconsiderate stranger to understand, that he had 
insulted the sacred person of their father. 

Washington bore this insult with his usual good 
temper ! but at the same time took such prudent meas- 
ures with the French government, that Mr. Genet was 
quickly recalled. 

Having at length attained the acme of all his 
wishes — having lived to see a general and efficient 
government adopted, and for eight years in success- 
ful operation, exalting his country from the brink of 
infamy and ruin to the highest ground of prosperity 
and honour, both at home and abroad — abroad, peace 
with Britain — with Spain — and, some slight heart 
burnings excepted, peace with France, and with all 



182 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the world: at home, peace with the Indians — our 
shining ploughshares laying open the best treasures 
of the earth — our ships flying over every sea — dis- 
tant nations feeding on our bread, and manufacturing 
our staples — our revenue rapidly increasing with our 
credit, religion, learning, arts, and whatever tends to 
national glory and happiness, he determined to lay 
down that load of public care which he had borne 
so long, and which, now in his 66th year, he found 
was growing too heavy for him. But feeling towards 
his countrymen the solicitude of a father for his chil- 
dren, over whom he had long watched, but whom he 
was about to leave to themselves ; and fearing, on the 
one hand, that they might go astray, and hoping, on 
the other, that from his long labours of love, he might 
be permitted to impart the counsels of his long ex- 
perience, he drew up for them a farewell address, 
which the filial piety of the nation has since called 
" his Legacy." 

As this little piece, about the length of an ordinary 
sermon, may do as much good to the people of 
America as any sermon ever preached, that Divine 
one on the mount excepted, I shall offer no apology 
for laying it before them; especially as I well know 
that they will all read it with the feelings of children 
reading the last letter of a once loved father now in 
his grave. And who knows but it may check for 
a while the fatal flame of discord which has destroyed 
all the once glorious republics of antiquity, and here 
now at length in the United States has caught upon 
the last republic that is left on the face of the earth. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 183 

WASHINGTON'S LAST WORDS 

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES 

September, 1796. 
" Friends and Fellow Citizens, 

" The period for a new election of a citizen, to 
administer the executive government of the United 
States, being not far distant — and the time actually 
arrived when your thoughts must be employed in 
designating the person who is to be clothed with that 
important trust — it appears to me proper, especially 
as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of 
the public voice, that I should now apprise you of 
the resolution I have formed, to decline being con- 
sidered among the number of those out of whom a 
choice is to be made. 

" I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice 
to be assured, that this resolution has not been taken 
without a strict regard to all the considerations ap- 
pertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen 
to his country; and that, in withdrawing the tender 
of service, which silence in my situation might imply, 
I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your 
future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for 
your past kindness; but am supported by a full con- 
viction, that the step is compatible with both. 

" The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, 
the office to which your suffrages have twice called 
me, have been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to 
the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what 



184 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped, that 
it would have been much earlier in my power, con- 
sistently with motives which I was not at liberty to 
disregard, to return to that retirement from which I 
had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my in- 
clination to do this previous to the last election, had 
even led to the preparation of an address to declare 
it to you. But mature reflection on the then perplexed 
and critical posture of our affairs with foreign nations, 
and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my 
confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea. 

" I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external 
as well as internal, no longer renders the pursuit of 
inclination incompatible with the sentiment of duty 
or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever partiality 
may be retained for my services, that, in the present 
circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove 
my determination to retire. 

" The impressions with which I first undertook the 
arduous trust, were explained on the proper occa- 
sions. In the discharge of this trust, I will only say, 
that I have, with good intentions, contributed towards 
the organization and administration of the govern- 
ment, the best exertions of which a very fallible judg- 
ment was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, 
of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience in 
my own eyes, perhaps still more in the eyes of others, 
has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself : 
and every day the increasing weight of years ad- 
monishes me more and more that the shade of retire- 
ment is as necessary to me as it will be welcome. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 185 

Satisfied that if any circumstances have given peculiar 
value to my services, they were temporary, I have the 
consolation to believe, that while choice and prudence 
invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does 
not forbid it, 

" In looking forward to the moment which is in- 
tended to terminate the career of my public life, my 
feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowl- 
edgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my 
beloved country, for the many honours it has con- 
ferred upon me ; still more for the steadfast confidence 
with which it has supported me ; and for the oppor- 
tunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting my in- 
violable attachment, by services faithful and persever- 
ing, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If 
benefits have resulted to our country from these ser- 
vices, let it always be remembered to your praise, and 
as an instructive example in our annals, that, under 
circumstances, in which the passions, agitated in every 
direction, were liable to mislead — amidst appearances 
sometimes dubious — vicissitudes of fortune often dis- 
couraging — in situations in which not unfrequently 
want of success has countenanced the spirit of criti- 
cism — the constancy of your support was the essen- 
tial prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans 
by which they were efifected. Profoundly penetrated 
with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, 
as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven 
may continue to you the choicest tokens of its bene- 
ficence; that your union and brotherly afifection may 
be perpetual ; that the free constitution, which is the 



186 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; 
that its administration, in every department, may be 
stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the 
happiness of the people of these states, under the 
auspices of Heaven, may be made complete, by so 
careful a preservation and so prudent a use of liberty, 
as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it 
to the applause, the affection, and the adoption of 
every nation which is yet a stranger to it. 

" Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But a solicitude 
for your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, 
and the apprehension of danger, natural to that solici- 
tude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to 
offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recom- 
mend to your frequent review, some sentiments, which 
are the result of much reflection, of no inconsider- 
able observation, and which appear to me all-important 
to the permanency of your felicity as a people. These 
will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you 
can only see in them the disinterested warnings of a 
parting friend, who can possibly have no personal 
motive to bias his counsel. Nor can I forget, as an 
encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my 
sentiments on a former and not dissimilar occasion. 

" Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every 
ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine 
is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment. 

" The unity of government, which constitutes you 
one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so ; 
for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real inde- 
pendence ; the support of your tranquillity at home. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 187 

your peace abroad; of your safety; of your pros- 
perity ; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. 
But as it is easy to foresee, that from different causes, 
and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, 
many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds 
the conviction of this truth ; as this is the point in 
your political fortress, against which the batteries of 
internal and external enemies will be most constantly 
and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) 
directed; it is of infinite moment, that you should 
properly estimate the immense value of your national 
union, to your collective and individual happiness ; 
that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and im- 
moveable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves 
to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your 
political safety and prosperity; watching for its pre- 
servation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing what- 
ever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any 
event be abandoned ; and indignantly frowning uponi 
the first dawning of every attempt to alien any portion 
of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred' 
ties which now link together the various parts. 

" For this you have every inducement of sympathy 
and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a com- 
mon country, that country has a right to concentrate 
your affections. The name of American, which be- 
longs to you in your national capacity, must always 
exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any ap- 
pellation derived from local discriminations. With 
slight shades of difference, you have the same re- 
ligion, manners, habits and political principles. You 



188 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

have, in a common cause, fought and triumphed to- 
gether. The independence and liberty you possess 
are the work of joint councils, and joint efforts — of 
common dangers, sufferings and successes. 

" But these considerations, however powerfully 
they address themselves to your sensibility, are 
greatly outweighed by those which apply more im- 
mediately to your interest. Here every portion of 
our country finds the most commanding motives for 
carefully guarding and preserving the union of the 
whole. 

" The NORTH, in an unrestrained intercourse with 
the SOUTH, protected by the equal laws of a common 
government, finds in the productions of the latter, 
great additional resources of maritime and commer- 
cial enterprize, and precious materials of manufactur- 
ing industry. The south, in the same intercourse 
benefiting by the agency of the north, sees its agri- 
culture grow, and its commerce expand. Turning 
partly into its own channels the seamen of the north, 
it finds its particular navigation invigorated: and 
while it contributes, in different ways, to nourish and 
increase the general mass of the national navigation, 
it looks forward to the protection of a maritime 
strength, to which itself is unequally adapted. — The 
east, in a like intercourse with the west, already 
finds, and in the progressive improvement of interior 
communications, by land and water, will more and 
more find a valuable vent for the commodities which 
it brings from abroad, or manufactures at home. — 
The west derives from the east supplies requisite 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 189 

to its growth and comfort : and what is, perhaps, of 
still greater consequence, it must of necessity owe the 
SECURE enjoyment of indispensable outlets for its 
own productions, to the weight, influence, and the 
future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the 
Union, directed by an indissoluble community of in- 
terest, as ONE NATION. Any other tenure, by which 
the WEST can hold this essential advantage, whether 
derived from its own separate strength, or from an 
apostate and unnatural connexion with any foreign 
power must be intrinsically precarious. 

" While then every part of our country thus feels 
an immediate and particular interest in union, all the 
parties combined cannot fail to find, in the united mass 
of means and efforts, greater strength, greater re- 
sources, proportionably greater security from external 
danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by 
foreign nations. And, what is of inestimable value, 
they must derive from union an exemption from those 
broils and wars between themselves, which so fre- 
quently afflict neighbouring countries, not tied together 
by the same government; which their own rivalships 
alone would be sufficient to produce, but which op- 
posite foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues, 
would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise, they 
will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military 
establishments, which, under any form of government, 
are inauspicious to liberty ; and which are to be re- 
garded as particularly hostile to republican liberty. In 
this sense it is, that your union ought to be considered 
as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the 



190 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

one ought to endear to you the preservation of the 
other, 

" These considerations speak a persuasive language 
to every reflecting and virtuous mind ; and exhibit the 
continuance of the union as a primary object of 
patriotic desire. Is there a doubt, whether a common 
government can embrace so large a sphere. Let ex- 
perience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in 
such a case were criminal. We are authorised to 
hope that a proper organization of the whole, with 
the auxiliary agency of governments for the respective 
subdivisions, will afford a happy issue to the experi- 
ment. 'Tis well worth a fair and full experiment. 
With such powerful and obvious motives to union, 
affecting all parts of our country, while experience 
shall not have demonstrated its impracticability, there 
will always be reason to distrust the patriotism of 
those, who in any quarter may endeavor to weaken 
its bands. 

" In contemplating the causes which may disturb 
our union, it occurs, as a matter of serious concern, 
that any ground should have been furnished for char- 
acterizing parties by geographical discriminations — 
northern and southern — atlantic and western ; whence 
designing men may endeavor to excite a belief, that 
there is a real difference of local interests and views. 
One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, 
within particular districts, is to misrepresent the 
opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot 
shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and 
heart-burnings which spring from these misrepresen- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 191 

tations. They tend to render alien to each other, those 
who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. 
The inhabitants of our western country have lately 
had a useful lesson on this head. They have seen, in 
the negociation by the executive, and in the unanimous 
ratification by the senate, of the treaty with Spain, 
and in the universal satisfaction at that event through- 
out the United States, a decisive proof how unfounded 
were the suspicions propagated among them, of a policy 
in the general government, and in the Atlantic States, 
unfriendly to their interest in regard to the Mississippi. 
They have been witnesses to the formation of two 
treaties, that with Great-Britain, and that with Spain, 
which secure to them every thing they could desire, in 
respect to our foreign relations, towards confirming 
their posterity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely 
for the preservation of these advantages on the union 
by which they were procured? Will they not hence- 
forth be deaf to those advisers, if such there are, who 
would sever from them their brethren, and connect 
them with aliens? 

" To the efficacy and permanency of your union, 
a government for the whole is indispensable. No 
alliances, however strict, between the parts, can be an 
adequate substitute. They must inevitably experience 
the infractions and interruptions which all alliances 
in all times have experienced. Sensible of this mo- 
mentous truth, you have improved upon your first 
essay, by the adoption of a constitution of govern- 
ment better calculated than your former, for an in- 
timate union, and for the efficacious management of 



192 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

your common concerns. This government, the off- 
spring of yonr own choice, miinfluenced and unawed, 
adopted upon full investigation and mature delibera- 
tion, completely free in its principles, in the distribu- 
tion of its powers, uniting security with energy, and 
containing within itself a provision for its own 
amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and 
your support. Respect for its authority, compliance 
with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties 
enjoined by tTie fundamental maxims of true liberty. 
The basis of our political systems is the right of the 
people to make and alter their constitutions of gov- 
. ternment. But the constitution which at any time exists, 
litill changed by an explicit and authentic act of the 
I Iwhole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The 
very idea of the power and the right of the people to 
establish government, pre-supposes the duty of every 
individual to obey the established government. 

"All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all 
combinations and associations, under whatever plaus- 
ible character, with a real design to direct, control, 
counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action 
of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this 
fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They 
serve to organize faction ; to give it an artificial and 
extraordinary force ; to put in the place of the dele- 
gated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a 
small, but artful and enterprising minority of the com- 
munity; and, according to the alternate triumphs of 
different parties, to make the public administration 
the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous pro- 






THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 193 

jects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent 
and wholesome plans, digested by common counsels, 
and modified by mutual interests. 

'' However combinations or associations of the 
above description may now and then answer popular 
ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, 
to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambi- 
tious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to sub- 
vert the power of the people ; and to usurp to them- 
selves the reins of government ; destroying afterwards 
the very engines which have lifted them to unjust 
dominion. 

" Towards the preservation of your government, 
and the permanency of your present happy state, it 
is requisite, not only that you speedily discountenance 
irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority, 
but also that you resist with care the spirit of inno- 
vation upon its principles, however specious the pre- 
texts. One method of assault may be to eiTect, in 
the forms of the constitution, alterations which will 
impair the energy of the system; and thus to under- 
mine what cannot be directly overthrown. In all 
the changes to which you may be invited, remember 
that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix 
the true character of government, as of other human 
institutions; that experience is the surest standard, 
by which to test the real tendency of the existing 
constitution of a count n,^ ; that facility in changes, 
upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, ex- 
poses to perpetual change, from the endless variety 
of hypothesis and opinion. And remember, especially, 
13 



194. THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

that for the efficient management of your common 
interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a govern- 
ment of as much vigor as is consistent with the per- 
fect security of liberty, is indispensable. Liberty itself 
will find in such a government, with powers properly 
distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, 
indeed, little else than a name, where the govern- 
ment is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of 
faction; to confine each member of the society within 
the limits prescribed by the laws ; and to maintain 
all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights 
of person and property. 

" I have already intimated to you the danger of 
the parties in the state, with particular reference to 
the founding of them on geographical discriminations. 
Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and 
warn you in the most solemn manner against the 
baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally. 

" This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from 
our nature, having its root in the strongest passions 
of the human mind. It exists under different shapes 
in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or 
repressed. But in those of the popular form, it is seen 
in its greatest rankness ; and is truly their worst enemy. 

" The alternate dominion of one faction over 
another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural 
to party dissention, which, in different ages and coun- 
tries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is 
itself frightful despotism. But this leads at length 
to a formal and permanent despotism. The disorders 
and miseries which result, gradually incline the minds 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 195 

of men to seek security and repose in the absolute 
power of an individual. And, sooner or later, the 
chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more 
fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition 
to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of 
public liberty. 

" Without looking forward to an extremity of this 
kind (which, nevertheless, ought not to be entirely 
out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of 
the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest 
and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. 

" It serves always to distract the public councils, 
and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates 
the community with ill founded jealousies and false 
alarms ; kindles the animosity of one part against 
another ; foments occasionally riot and insurrection ; 
and opens the door to foreign influence and corrup- 
tion, which find a facilitated access to the government 
itself through the channels of party passions. Thus 
the policy and will of one country are subjected to 
the policy and will of another. 

" There is an opinion that parties in free countries 
are useful checks upon the administration of the gov- 
ernment, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. 
This, within certain limits, is probably true, and, in 
governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may 
look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the 
spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, 
in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be 
encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is cer- 
tain there will always be enough of this spirit for 



196 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

every salutary purpose. And there being constant 
danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of 
public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it, A fire 
not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance 
to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of 
v^arming, it should consume. 

" It is important, likewise, that the habits of think- 
ing in a free country should inspire caution, in those 
entrusted with its administration, to confine them- 
selves within their respective constitutional spheres, 
avoiding, in the exercise of the powers of one de- 
partment, to encroach upon another. The spirit of 
encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all 
the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever 
the form of government, a real despotism. A just 
estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse 
it, which predominates in the human heart, is suffi- 
cient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The 
necessity of reciprocal checks, in the exercise of poli- 
tical power, by dividing and distributing it into dif- 
ferent depositories, and constituting each the guardian 
of public weal against invasions by the others, has 
been evinced by experiments ancient and modem ; 
some of them in our country, and under our own 
eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to 
institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the 
distribution or modification of the constitutional powers 
be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by 
an amendment in the way which the constitution desig- 
nates. But let there be no change by usurpation ; for 
though this, in one instance, may be the instrument 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 197 

of good, it is the customary weapon by which free 
governments are destroyed. The precedent must 
always greatly overbalance, in permanent evil, any 
partial or transient benefit which the use can at any 
time yield. 

" Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to 
political prosperity, religion and morality are indis- 
pensable supports. In vain would that man claim the 
tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert 
these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest 
props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere 
politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect 
and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all 
their connexions with private and public felicity. Let 
it be simply asked, where is the security for property, 
for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obliga- 
tions desert the oaths, which are the instruments of 
investigation in the courts of justice? And let us 
with caution indulge the supposition, that morality 
can be obtained without religion. Whatever may be 
conceded to the influence of refined education on 
minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience 
both forbid us to expect that national morality can 
prevail in exclusion of religious principle. 

" 'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is 
a necessary spring of popular government. The rule 
indeed extends with more or less force to every species 
of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to 
it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake 
the foundation of the fabric ? 

" Promote, then, as an object of primary impor- 



198 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

tance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowl- 
edge. In proportion as the structure of a government 
gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public 
opinion should be enlightened. 

"As a very important source of strength and se- 
curity, cherish public credit. One method of preserv- 
ing it, is to use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding 
occasions of expense by cultivating peace ; but remem- 
bering also that timely disbursements to prepare for 
danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements 
to repel it; avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, 
not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by 
vigorous exertions, in time of peace, to discharge the 
debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned ; 
not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden 
which we ourselves ought to bear. The execution of 
these maxims belongs to your representatives; but it 
is necessary that public opinion should co-operate. To 
facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it is 
essential that you should practically bear in mind, that 
towards the payment of debts there must be revenue ; 
that to have revenue there must be taxes ; that no taxes 
can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient 
and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment in- 
separable from the selection of the proper object (which 
is always a choice of difficulties) ought to be a decisive 
motive for a candid construction of the conduct of 
the government in making it, and for a spirit of ac- 
quiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which 
the public exigencies may at any time dictate. 

" Observe good faith and justice towards all 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 199 

nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Re- 
ligion and morality enjoin this conduct: and can it be 
that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will 
be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant 
period a great nation, to give to mankind the mag- 
nanimous and too novel example of a people always 
guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who 
can doubt that in the course of time and things, the 
fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary 
advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence 
to it. Can it be, that Providence has not connected 
the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue? The 
experiment, at least, is recommended by every senti- 
ment which ennobles human nature. Alas ! is it ren- 
dered impossible by its vices? 

" In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more 
essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies 
against particular nations, and passionate attachments 
for others, should be excluded ; and that in place of 
them just and amicable feelings towards all should 
be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards 
another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, 
is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its ani- 
mosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient 
to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Anti- 
pathy in one nation against another disposes each more 
readily to offer insult and injury; to lay hold of slight 
causes of umbrage ; and to be haughty and intractable, 
when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. 
Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and 
bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and 



200 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, 
contrary to the best calculations of policy. The gov- 
ernment sometimes participates in the national pro- 
pensity ; and adopts, through passion, what reason 
would reject. At other times, it makes the animosity 
of the nation subservient to projects of hostility, in- 
stigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and 
pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes per- 
haps the liberty, of nations has been the victim. 

" So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one 
nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sym- 
pathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion 
of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no 
real common interest exists, and infusing into one the 
enmities of the other, betrays the former into a par- 
ticipation in the quarrels and wars of the latter, with- 
out adequate inducement or justification. It leads 
also to concessions to the favorite nation, of privileges 
denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the 
nation, making the concessions ; by unnecessarily part- 
ing with what ought to have been retained; and by 
exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, 
in the parties from whom equal privileges are with- 
held. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded 
citizens (who devote themselves to the favourite 
nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of 
their own country, without odium, sometimes even 
with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a 
virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference 
for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 201 

the base or foolish compHances of ambition, corrup- 
tion, or infatuation. 

"As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable 
ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to 
the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How 
many opportunities do they aft'ord to tamper with 
domestic factions ; to practise the arts of seduction ; 
to mislead public opinion ; to influence or awe the 
public councils ! Such an attachment of a small or 
weak, towards a great and powerful nation, dooms 
the former to be the satellite of the latter. 

"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence 
(I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the 
jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly 
awake ; since history and experience prove that foreign 
infl'uence is one of the most baneful foes of republican 
government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be 
impartial ; else it becomes the instrument of the very 
influence to be avoided, instead of a defence against 
it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and 
excessive dislike of another, cause, those whom they 
actuate, to see danger only on one side ; and serve to 
veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. 
Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the 
favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious, 
while its fools and dupes usurp the applause and con- 
fidence of the people, to surrender their interests. 

" The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to 
foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial rela- 
tions, to have with them as little political connexion 
as possible. So far as we have already formed en- 



202 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

gagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good 
faith. Here let us stop. 

" Europe has a set of primary interests, which to 
us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she 
must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes 
of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. 
Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate 
ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes 
of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and col- 
lisions of her friendships or enmities. 

" Our detached and distant situation invites and 
enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain 
one people, under an efficient government, the period 
is not far off, when we may defy material injury from 
external annoyance ; when we may take such an atti- 
tude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any 
time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected ; when 
belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making 
acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving 
us provocations ; when we may choose peace or war, 
as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. 

" Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situ- 
ation? Why quit our own, to stand upon foreign 
ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with 
that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and 
prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rival- 
ship, interest, humour, or caprice? 

" 'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent 
alliances, with any portion of the foreign world ; so 
far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it ; for let 
me not be understood as capable of patronising in- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 203 

fidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim 
no less applicable to public than to private afi'airs, 
that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, 
therefore, let those engagements be observed in their 
genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary, 
and would be unwise, to extend them. 

" Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable 
establishments, in a respectable defensive posture, we 
may safely trust to temporary alliances for extra- 
ordinary emergencies. 

" Harmony and a liberal intercourse with all 
nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and in- 
terest. But even our commercial policy should hold an 
equal and impartial hand ; neither seeking nor grant- 
ing exclusive favors or preferences ; consulting the 
natural course of things ; diffusing- and diversifying by 
gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing 
nothing; establishing, (with powers so disposed, in 
order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights 
of .our merchants, and to enable the government to 
support them,) conventional rules of intercourse, the 
best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will 
permit, but temporary, and liable to be from time to 
time abandoned or varied, as experience and circum- 
stances shall dictate ; constantly keeping in view, that 
it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors 
from another; that it must pay with a portion of its 
independence, for whatever it m.ay accept under that 
character ; that, by such acceptance, it may place itself 
in the condition of having given equivalents for nom- 
inal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingrati- 



204 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

tude for not giving more. There can be no greater 
error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from 
nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience 
must cure, which a just pride ought to discard. 

" In offering to you, my countrymen, these coun- 
sels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope 
they will make the strong and lasting impression I 
could wish; that they will control the usual current 
of the passions, or prevent our nation from running 
the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of 
nations ! but, if I may even flatter myself, that they 
may be productive of some partial benefit, some oc- 
casional good ; that they may now and then recur to 
moderate the fury of party spirit; to warn against 
the mischiefs of foreign intrigue ; to guard against 
the impostures of pretended patriotism ; this hope will 
be a full recompense for the solicitude for your wel- 
fare by which they have been dictated. 

" How far, in the discharge of my official duties, I 
have been guided by the principles which have been 
delineated, the public records and other evidences of 
my conduct must witness to you and to the world. 
To myself, the assurance of my own conscience is, 
that I have, at least, believed myself to be guided by 
them. 

" In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, 
my proclamation of the 22nd of April, 1793, is the 
index to my plan. Sanctioned by your approving 
voice, and by that of your representatives in both 
houses of congress, the spirit of that measure has 
continually governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts 
to deter or divert me from it. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 205 

"After deliberate examination, with the aid of the 
best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that 
our country, under all the circumstances of the case, 
had a right to take, and was bound in duty and in- 
terest to take, a neutral position. Having taken it, 
I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to 
maintain it with moderation, perseverance and firmness. 

" The considerations which respect the right to hold 
this conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to 
detail. I will only observe, that according to my under- 
standing of the matter, that right, so far from being 
denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been 
virtually admitted by all. 

" The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be 
inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation 
which justice and humanity impose on every nation, 
in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate 
the relations of peace and amity towards other nations. 

" The inducements of interest for observing that 
conduct will best be referred to your own reflections 
and experience. With me, a predominant motive has 
been to endeavour to gain time to our country to settle 
and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress 
without interruption to that degree of strength and 
consistency, which is necessary to give it, humanly 
speaking, the command of its own fortunes. 

" Though, in reviewing the incidents of my ad- 
ministration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I 
am nevertheless too sensible of my defects, not to 
think it probable that I may have committed many 
errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech 



206 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which 
they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope 
that my country will never cease to view them with 
indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life 
dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the 
faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to 
oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of 
rest. 

" Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, 
and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is 
so natural to a man, who views in it the native soil of 
himself and his progenitors for several generations, I 
anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat, in 
v/hich I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the 
sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my 
fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws 
under a free government — the ever favourite object 
of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our 
mutual cause, labours and dangers. 

" G. WASHINGTON. 

" United States, ) 

2yth Sept., 1796." ) 

The appearance of this address in the gazettes of 
the United States, struck every where a damp on the 
spirits of the people. To be thus bidden farewell by 
one to whom, in every time of danger, they had so 
long and so fondly looked up, as, under God, their 
surest and safest friend, could not but prove to them 
a grievous shock. Indeed many could not refrain from 
tears, especially when they came to that part where he 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 207 

talked of being soon to be " consigned to the mansions 
of rest." 

During the next and last session that he ever met 
congress, which began on the 7th of December, 1796, 
he laboured hard to induce that honourable body in- 
stantly to set about the following public works, which, 
to him, appeared all important to the nation. 

I St. Societies and institutions for the improvement 
of agriculture. 

2d. A navy. 

3d. A military Academy. 

4th. A manufactory of arms. 

5th. A national university. 

On the 4th of March, 1797, he took his last leave 
of Philadelphia. Having ever been an enlightened 
and virtuous republican, who deems it the first of 
duties to honour the man whom the majority of his 
countrymen had chosen to honour, Washington could 
not think of going away, until he had first paid his 
respects to the man of their choice. It was this that 
retarded his journey — it was this that brought him to 
the senate chamber. 

About eleven o'clock, while the members of con- 
gress, with numbers of the first characters, were as- 
sembled in the senate hall, anxiously awaiting the 
arrival of Mr. Adams, a modest rap was heard at 
the door. Supposing it to be the president elect, the 
attention of all was turned to the entry, when lo ! 
instead of Mr. Adams and his suite, who should ap- 
pear but the honoured and beloved form of Wash- 
ington, without attendants, and in his plain travelling 



208 THE JLIFE '^F WASHINGTON 

dress. Instantly the joy of filial love sprung up in 
all hearts, glowed in every face; and bursted forth 
in involuntary plaudits from every tongue. Presently 
Mr. Adams entered with his attendants; but passed 
on in a great measure unnoticed. The father of his 
country was in the presence of his children, and per- 
haps for the last time; who then could divide his 
attentions? Riveted on his face was every glistening 
eye; while busy memory, flying over the many toils 
and dangers of his patriot life, gave the spectators up 
to those delicious thoughts from which no obtruder 
could break them without a sigh. 

Having just waited to congratulate Mr. Adams on 
his inauguration, and very heartily to pray that " his 
government might prove a great joy to himself and 
a blessing to his country," he hastened to Mount Ver- 
non ; to close in peace the short evening of this laborious 
life ; and to wait for a better, even for that " rest which 
remaineth for the people of God." 

He carried with him the most fervent prayers of 
congress, that " Heaven would pour its happiest sun- 
shine on the decline of his days." But this their 
prayer was not fully answered. On the contrary, with 
respect to his country, at least, his evening sun went 
down under a cloud. 

The French directory, engaged in a furious war 
with England, turned to America for aid. But Wash- 
ington, wisely dreading the effects of war on his young 
republic, and believing that she had an unquestioned 
right to neutrality, most strictly in joined it on his 
people by proclamation. This so enraged the direc- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 209 

tory, that they presently gave orders to their cruizers, 
to seize American ships on the high seas — that equal 
path which God had spread for the nations to trade 
on ! Washington had sent out General Charles C. 
Pinckney to remonstrate against such iniquitous pro- 
ceedings. The directory would not receive him! but 
still continued their spoliations on our wide-spread 
and defenceless commerce, ruining numbers of inno- 
cent families. Still determined, according to Wash- 
ington's advice, " so to act as to put our enemy in 
the wrong," the American government dispatched two 
other envoys, Gen. Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, to 
aid Pinckney. But they fared no better. Though they 
only supplicated for peace ; though they only prayed 
to be permitted to make explanations, they were still 
kept by the directory at a most mortifying distance; 
and, after all, were told, that America was not to look 
for a single smile of reconciliation, nor even a word 
on that subject, until her envoys should bring large 
tribute in their hands ! ! This, as Washington had 
predicted, instantly evaporated the last drop of Amer- 
ican patience. He had always said, that " though 
some very interested or deluded persons were much 
too fond of England and France to value America as 
they ought; yet he was firmly persuaded, that the 
great mass of the people were hearty lovers of their 
country; and, as soon as their eyes were open to the 
grievous injuries done her, would assuredly resent 
them, like men, to whom God had given strong feel- 
ings, on purpose to guard their rights." 

His prediction was gloriously verified. For, on 
14 



210 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

hearing the word tribute, the American envoys in 
stantly took fire!! while the brave Gen. Pinckney, 
(a revolutionary soldier, and neither Englishman nor 
Frenchman, but a true American,) indignantly ex- 
claimed to the secretary of the directory — " Tribute, 
sir ! no, sir ! the Americans pay no tribute ! tell the 
directory, that we will give millions for defence, but 
not a cent for tribute." 

Soon as this demand of the directory was told in 
America, the glorious spirit of '76 was kindled like 
a flash of lightning, from St. Mary's to Maine. 
"What!" said the people every where, "shall we, 
shall Americans! who, rather than pay an unconsti- 
tutional three-penny tax on tea, bravely encountered 
a bloody war with Britain, now tamely yield to France 
to beggar us at pleasure? No! Millions for defence, 
but not a cent for tribute," was nobly reverberated 
throughout the continent. 

War being now fully expected, the eyes of the 
nation were instantly turned towards Washington, to 
head her armies against the French. He readily con- 
sented ; but, at the same time, observed that there 
would be no war. " The directory," said he, " though 
mad enough to do almost any thing, are yet not quite 
so mad as to venture an attack, when they shall find 
that the spirit of the nation is up." The event showed 
the usual correctness of his judgment; for, on discov- 
ering that America, though very willing to be the 
sister, had no notion of being the slave of France — on 
learning that Washington was roused, and the strength 
of the nation rallying around him — and also that the 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 211 

American tars, led on by the gallant Truxton, had 
spread the fiery stars of liberty, blasting on every sea 
the sickly fleurs-de-luce, of gallic piracy, the directory 
very sagaciously signified a disposition to accommo- 
date. Mr. Adams immediately despatched three new 
envoys to the French republic. By the time they got 
there, the French republic was no more ! Bonaparte, 
believing that volatile people incapable of governing 
for themselves, had kindly undertaken to govern for 
them ; and having, en passant, kicked the directory 
from their seats, he seized their ill-managed power, 
and very leisurely mounted the throne of the Bour- 
bons. Dazzled with the splendor of his talents and 
victories, the great nation quietly yielded to his reign ; 
and with a happy versatility peculiar to themselves, 
exchanged the tumultuous and bloody " Caira," for the 
milder notes of " vive I'empereur." With this wonder- 
ful man, the American envoys found no difficulty to 
negotiate ; for having no wish to re-unite America 
to his hated enemy, Britain, he received them very 
graciously; and presently settled all their claims in a 
satisfactory manner. Thus lovingly did the breath of 
God blow away once more the black cloud of war, and 
restore the bright day of peace to our favoured land! 
But Washington never lived to rejoice with his coun- 
trymen in the sunshine of that peace ; for before it 
reached our shores, he had closed his eyes for ever on 
all mortal things. 



CHAPTER XII 

THE DEATH OF WASHINGTON 

And when disease obstructs the labouring breath, 
When the heart sickens and each pulse is death, 
Even then Religion shall sustain the just; 
Grace their last moments; nor desert their dust. 

If the prayers of millions could have prevailed, 
Washington would have been immortal on earth. And 
if fulness of peace, riches, and honours could have 
rendered that immortality happy, Washington had been 
blessed indeed. But this world is not the place of 
true happiness. Though numberless are the satisfac- 
tions, which a prudence and virtue like Washington's 
may enjoy in this world, yet they fall short, infinite 
degrees, of that pure, unembittered felicity, which the 
Almighty parent has prepared in heaven for the spirits 
of the just. 

To prepare for this immensity of bliss, is the real 
errand on which God sent us into the world. Our 
preparation consists in acquiring those great virtues, 
purity and love, which alone can make us worthy com- 
panions of angels, and fit partakers of their exalted 
delights. Washington had wisely spent his life in ac- 
quiring the immortal virtues. " He had fought the 
good fight " against his own unreasonable afifections. 
He had glorified God, by exemplifying the charms of 
virtue to men. He had borne the heat and burden of 
212 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 213 

the day — his great day of duty: and the evening of 
old age being come, the servant of God must now go 
to receive his wages. Happy Washington ! If crowns 
and kingdoms could have purchased such peace as 
thine, such hopes big with immortality, with what 
begging earnestness would crowns and kingdoms have 
been offered by the mighty conquerors of the earth, in 
their dying moments of terror and despair ! 

On the 14th of December, 1799, (when he wanted 
but nine weeks and two days of being sixty-eight 
years old,) he rode out to his mill, three miles distant. 
The day was raw and rainy. The following night 
he was attacked with a violent pain and inflamma- 
tion of the throat. The lancet of one of his domestics 
was employed, but with no advantage. Early in the 
morning, Dr. Craik, the friend and physician of his 
youth and age, was sent for. Alarmed at the least 
appearance of danger threatening a life so dear to 
him. Dr. Craik advised to call in, immediately, the 
consulting assistance of his friends, the ingenious and 
learned Dr. Dick, of Alexandria, and Dr. Brown, of 
Port Tobacco. They came on the wings of speed. 
They felt the awfulness of their situation. The great- 
est of human beings was lying low. A life, of all 
others the most revered, the most beloved, was at 
stake. And if human skill could have saved — if the 
sword of genius, and the buckler of experience could 
have turned the stroke of death, Washington had still 
lived. But his hour was come. 

It appears, that from the commencement of the 
attack, he was favored with a presentiment, that he 



214 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

was now laid down to rise no more. He took, how- 
ever, the medicines that were offered him : but it was 
principally from a sense of duty. 

It has been said that a man's death is generally a 
copy of his life. It was Washington's case exactly. 
In his last illness he behaved with the firmness of a 
soldier, and the resignation of a Christian. 

The inflammation in his throat was attended with 
great pain, which he bore with the fortitude that be- 
came him. He was, once or twice, heard to say that, 
had it pleased God, he should have been glad to die a 
little easier; but that he doubted not that it was for 
his good. 

Every hour now spread a sadder gloom over the 
scene. Despair sat on the faces of the physicians ; for 
they saw that their art had failed ! The strength of 
the mighty was departing from him; and death, with 
his sad harbingers, chills and paleness, was coming on 
apace. 

Mount Vernon, which had long shone the queen 
of elegant joys, was now about to suffer a sad eclipse ! 
an eclipse, which would soon be mournfully visible, 
not only through the United States, but throughout 
the whole world. 

Sons and daughters of Columbia, gather yourselves 
together around the bed of your expiring father — 
around the last bed of him to whom under God you 
and your children owe many of the best blessings of 
this life. When Joseph the prime minister of Egypt 
heard that his shepherd father was sick, he hastened 
up, to see him ; and fell on his face, and kissed him, 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 215 

and wept a long while. But Joseph had never received 
such services from Jacob as you have received from 
Washington. But we call you not to weep for Wash- 
ington. We ask you not to view those eyes, now 
sunk hollow, which formerly darted their lightning 
flashes against your enemies — nor to feel that heart, 
now faintly laboring, which so often throbbed with 
more than mortal joys when he saw his young country- 
men charging like lions, upon the foes of liberty. No ! 
we call you not to weep, but to rejoice. Washington, 
who so often conquered himself, is now about to 
conquer the last enemy. 

Silent and sad his physicians sat by his bedside, 
looking on him as he lay panting for breath. They 
thought on the past, and the tear swelled in their 
eyes. He marked it, and, stretching out his hand to 
them, and shaking his head, said, "O no ! don't ! don't !" 
then with a delightful smile added, " I am dying, gentle- 
men ! but, thank God, I am not afraid to die." 

Feeling that the hour of his departure out of this 
world was at hand, he desired that every body would 
quit the room. They all went out; and, according 
to his wish, left him — with his God. 

There, by himself, like Moses alone on the top of 
Pisgah, he seeks the face of God. There, by him- 
self, standing as on the awful boundary that divides 
time from eternity, that separates this world from the 
next, he cannot quit the long frequented haunts of 
the one, nor launch away into the untried regions of 
the other, until (in humble imitation of the world's 
great Redeemer,) he has poured forth, into the bosom 



216 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

of his God, those strong sensations which the solem- 
nity of his situation naturally suggested. 

With what angelic fervor did he adore that 
Almighty Love, which, though inhabiting the heaven 
of heavens, deigned to wake his sleeping dust — 
framed him so fearfully in the womb — nursed him 
on a tender mother's breast — watched his helpless 
infancy — guarded his heedless youth — preserved him 
from the dominion of his passions — inspired him with 
the love of virtue — led him safely up to man — and, 
from such low beginnings, advanced him to such un- 
paralleled usefulness and glory among men! These, 
and ten thousand other precious gifts heaped on him, 
unasked — many of them long before he had the knowl- 
edge to ask — overwhelmed his soul with gratitude un- 
utterable; exalted to infinite heights his ideas of eternal 
love; and bade him without fear resign his departing 
spirit into the arms of his Redeemer God, whose 
mercies are over all his works. 

He is now about to leave the great family of man, 
in which he has so long sojourned ! The yearnings of 
his soul are over his brethren ! How fervently does 
he adore that goodness, which enabled him to be so 
serviceable to them ! that grace, which preserved him 
from injuring them by violence or fraud ! How fer- 
vently does he pray, that the unsufifering kingdom of 
God may come, and that the earth may be filled with 
the richest fruits of righteousness and peace! 

He is now about to leave his country! that dear 
spot which gave him birth — that dear spot for which 
he has so long watched and prayed, so long toiled 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 217 

and fought; and whose beloved children he has so 
often sought to gather, " even as a hen gathereth her 
chickens under her wings." He sees them now spread 
abroad like flfocks in goodly pastures ; like favoured 
Israel in the land of promise. He remembers how 
God, by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, 
brought their fathers into this good land, a land flow- 
ing with milk and honey; and blessed them with the 
blessings of heaven above, and the earth beneath ; 
with the blessings of liberty and of peace, of religion 
and of laws, above all other people. He sees that, 
through the rich mercies of God, they have now the 
precious opportunity to continue their country the glory 
of the earth, and a refuge for the poor, and for the 
persecuted of all lands ! The transporting sight of 
such a cloud of blessings, impending close over the 
heads of his countrymen, together with the distressing 
uncertainty whether they will put forth their hands 
and enjoy them, shakes the parent soul of Washington 
with feelings too strong for his dying frame ! The last 
tear that he is ever to shed, now steals into his eye — 
the last groan that he is ever to heave, is about to issue 
from his faintly labouring heart. 

Feeling that the silver cord of life is loosing, and 
that his spirit is ready to quit her old companion, the 
body, he extends himself on his bed — closes his eyes 
for the last time with his own hands — folds his arms 
decently on his breast, then breathing out " Father 
of mercies, take me to thyself," — he fell asleep. 

Swift on angel's wings the brightening saint 
ascended; while voices more than human were war- 



218 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

bling through the happy regions, and hymning the 
great procession towards the gates of heaven. His 
glorious coming was seen afar off; and myriads of 
mighty angels hastened forth, with golden harps, to 
welcome the honoured stranger. High in front of 
the shouting hosts, were seen the beauteous forms of 
Franklin, Warren, Mercer, Scammel, and of him who 
fell at Quebec, with all the virtuous patriots, who, 
on the side of Columbia, toiled or bled for liberty and 
truth. But oh ! how changed from what they were, 
when, in their days of flesh, bathed in sweat and 
blood, they fell at the parent feet of their weeping 
country! Not the homeliest infant suddenly spring- 
ing into a soul-enchanting Hebe — not dreary winter 
suddenly brightening into spring, with all her bloom 
and fragrance, ravishing the senses, could equal such 
a glorious change. Oh ! where are now their wrinkles 
and grey hairs? Where their ghastly wounds and 
clotted blood? Their forms are of the stature of 
angels — their robes like morning clouds streaked with 
gold — the stars of heaven, like crowns, glitter on their 
heads — immortal youth, celestial rosy red, sits bloom- 
ing on their cheeks, while infinite benignity and love 
beam from their eyes. Such were the forms of thy 
sons, O Columbia ! such the brother band of thy mar- 
tyred saints, that now poured forth from heaven's 
wide opening gates, to meet thy Washington ; to meet 
their beloved chief, who, in the days of his mortality, 
had led their embattled squadrons to the war. At sight 
of him, even these blessed spirits seem to feel new 
raptures, and to look more dazzlingly bright. In 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 219 

joyous throngs they pour around him — they devour 
him with their eyes of love — they embrace him in 
transports of tenderness unutterable ; while from their 
roseate cheeks, tears of joy, such as angels weep, 
roll down. 

All that followed was too much for the over-dazzled 
eye of imagination. She was seen to return, with the 
quick panting bosom and looks entranced of a fond 
mother, near swooning at sudden sight of a dear loved 
son, deemed lost, but now found, and raised to kingly 
honours ! She was heard passionately to exclaim, with 
palms and eyes lifted to heaven, " O, who can count 
the stars of Jacob, or number the fourth part of the 
blessings of Israel ! — Let me die the death of Wash- 
ington ! and may my latter end be like his ! " 

Let us now return to all that remained of Wash- 
ington on earth. He had expressly ordered in his 
will, that he should be buried in a private manner, 
and without any parade. But this was impossible, 
for who could stay at home when it was said, " To-day 
General Washington is to be buried ! " On the morn- 
ing of the i8th, which was fixed on for his funeral, 
the people poured in by thousands to pay him the 
last respect, and, as they said, to take their last look. 
And, while they looked on him, nature stirred that at 
their hearts, which quickly brought the best blood into 
their cheeks, and rolled down the tears from their 
eyes. About two o'clock they bore him to his long 
home, and buried him in his own family vault, near 
the banks of the great Potomac. And to this day, 
often as the ships of war pass that way, they waken 



220 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

up the thunder of their loudest guns, pointed to the 
spot, as if to tell the sleeping hero, that he is not 
forgotten in his narrow dwelling. 

The news of his death soon reached Philadelphia, 
where Congress was then in session. A question of 
importance being on the carpet that day, the house, 
as usual, was much interested. But soon as it was 
announced — " General Washington is dead " — an in- 
stant stop was put to all business — the tongue of the 
orator was struck dumb — and a midnight silence en- 
sued, save when it was interrupted by deepest sighs 
of the members, as, with drooping foreheads rested 
on their palms, they sat, each absorbed in mournful 
cogitation. Presently, as utterly unfit for business, 
both houses adjourned; and the members retired slow 
and sad to their lodgings, like men who had suddenly 
heard of the death of a father. 

For several days hardly any thing was done in 
Congress ; hardly any thing thought of but to talk of 
and to praise the departed Washington. In this patri- 
otic work all parties joined with equal alacrity and 
earnestness. In this all were federalists, all were 
republicans. Elegant addresses were exchanged be- 
tween the two houses of Congress and the President, 
and all of them replete with genius and gratitude. 

Then, by unanimous consent. Congress came to the 
following resolutions: 

1st. That a grand marble monument should be erected 
at the city of Washington, under which with per- 
mission of his lady, the body of the General should 
be deposited. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 221 

2d. That there should be a funeral procession from 

congress hall to the German Lutheran church, to 

hear an oration delivered by one of the members 

of congress. 
3d. That the members of congress should wear full 

mourning during the session. 
4th. That it should be recommended to the people of 

the United States to wear crape on the left arm, as 

mourning, for thirty days. 

But, thank God, the people of the United States 
needed not the hint contained in the last resolution. 
Though they could not all very elegantly speak, yet 
their actions showed that they all very deeply felt 
what they owed to Washington. For, in every city, 
village, and hamlet, the people were so struck on 
hearing of his death, that long before they heard of 
the resolution of congress, they ran together to ease 
their troubled minds in talking and hearing talk of 
Washington, and to devise some public mode of tes- 
tifying their sorrow for his death/. Every where 
throughout the continent, churches and court houses 
were hung in black, mourning was put on, proces- 
sions were made, and sermons preached, while the 
crowded houses listened with pleasure to the praises 
of Washington, or sighed and wept when they heard 
of his toils and battles for his country. 



CHAPTER XIII 

CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON 

Let the poor witling argue all he can, 
It is religion still that makes the man. 

When the children of years to come, hearing his 
great name re-echoed from every lip, shall say to 
their fathers, " What was it that raised Washington 
to such a height of glory?" let them be told that it 

was HIS GREAT TALENTS, CONSTANTLY GUIDED AND 

GUARDED BY RELIGION. For how shall man, frail 
man, prone to inglorious ease and pleasure, ever ascend 
the arduous steps of virtue, unless animated by the 
mighty hopes of religion? Or what shall stop him in 
his swift descent to infamy and vice, if unawed by 
that dread power, which proclaims to the guilty that 
their secret crimes are seen, and shall not go unpun- 
ished ? Hence, the wise, in all ages, have pronounced, 
that " there never was a truly great man without 
religion." 

There have, indeed, been courageous generals, and 
cunning statesmen, without religion, but mere courage 
or cunning, however transcendent, never yet made a 
great man. 

" Admit that this can conquer, that can cheat ; 
'Tis phrase absurd, to call a villain great ! 
Who wickedly is wise, or madly brave, 
Is but the more a fool, the more a knave." 
222 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 223 

No! to be truly great, a man must have not only 
great talents, but those talents must be constantly 
exerted on great, i.e., good actions — and perseveringly 
too — for if he should turn aside to vice — farewell to 
his heroism. Hence, when Epaminondas was asked 
which was the greatest man, himself or Pelopidas? 
he repHed, "wait till we are dead:" meaning that 
the all of heroism depends on perseverance in great 
and good actions. But sensual and grovelling as man 
is, what can incline and elevate him to those things 
like religion, that divine power, to whom alone it be- 
longs to present those vast and eternal goods and ills 
which best alarm our fears, enrapture our hopes, in- 
flame the worthiest loves, rouse the truest avarice, and 
in short, touch every spring and passion of our souls 
in favour of virtue and noble actions. 

Did SHAME restrain Alcibiades from a base action 
in the presence of Socrates? " Behold," says Religion, 
" a greater than Socrates is here ! " 

Did LOVE embolden Jacob to brave fourteen years 
of slavery for an earthly beauty? Religion springs 
that eternal love, for whose sake good men can even 
glory in laborious duties. 

Did the ambition of a civic crown animate Scipio 
to heroic deeds ? Religion holds a crown, at the sight 
of which the laurels of a Caesar droop to weeds. 

Did avarice urge Cortez through a thousand toils 
and dangers for wealth? Religion points to those 
treasures in heaven, compared to which all diamond 
beds and mines of massy gold are but trash. 

Did good Aurelius study the happiness of his sub- 



224 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

jects for this world's glory? Religion displays that 
world of glory, where those who have laboured to 
make others happy, shall " shine like stars for ever 
and for ever." 

Does the fear of death deter man from horrid 
crimes? Religion adds infinite horrors to that fear — 
it warns them of death both of soul and body in hell. 

In short, what motives under heaven can restrain 
men from vices and crimes, and urge them on, full 
stretch, after individual and national happiness, like 
those of religion? For lack of these motives, alas! 
how many who once dazzled the world with the glare 
of their exploits, are now eclipsed and set to rise no 
more! 

There was Arnold, who, in courage and military 
talents, glittered in the same firmament with Wash- 
ington, and, for a while, his face shone like the star 
of the morning; but alas! for lack of Washington's 
religion, he soon fell, like Lucifer, from a heaven of 
glory, into an abyss of never ending infamy. 

And there was general Charles Lee, too, confessedly 
a great wit, a great scholar, a great soldier, but, after 
all, not a great man. For, through lack of that mag- 
nanimous benevolence which religion inspires, he fell 
into the vile state of envy : and, on the plains of Mon- 
mouth, rather than fight to immortalize Washington, 
he chose to retreat and disgrace himself. 

There was the gallant General Hamilton also — a 
gigantic genius — a statesman fit to rule the mightiest 
monarchy — a soldier " fit to stand by Washington and 
give command." But alas! for lack of religion, see 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 225 

how all was lost ! preferring the praise of man to that 
praise " which cometh from God," and pursuing the 
phantom honour up to the pistol's mouth, he is cut 
off at once from life and greatness, and leaves his 
family and country to mourn his hapless fate. 

And there was the fascinating Colonel Burr, a man 
bom to be great — brave as Caesar, polished as Ches- 
terfield, eloquent as Cicero. Lifted by the strong arm 
of his country, he rose fast, and bade fair soon to fill 
the place where Washington had sat. But alas ! lack- 
ing religion, he could not wait the spontaneous fall 
of the rich honours ripening over his head, but in an 
evil hour stretched forth his hand to the forbidden 
fruit, and by that fatal act was cast out from the Eden 
of our republic, and amerced of greatness for ever. 

But why should I summon the Arnolds and Lees, 
the Hamiltons and Burrs of the earth, to give sad 
evidence, that no valour, no genius alone can make 
men great? Do we not daily meet with instances, of 
youth amiable and promising as their fond parents' 
wishes, who yet, merely for lack of religion, soon 
make shipwreck of every precious hope, sacrificing 
their gold to gamblers, their health to harlots, and 
their glory to grog — making conscience their curse, 
this life a purgatory, and the next a hell ! In fact, a 
young man, though of the finest talents and educa- 
tion, without religion, is but like a gorgeous ship with- 
out ballast. Highly painted, and with flowing canvass, 
she launches out on the deep; and during a smooth 
sea and gentle breeze, she moves along stately as the 
pride of the ocean; but as soon as the stormy winds 
15 



226 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

descend, and the blackening billows begin to roll, sud- 
denly she is overset, and disappears for ever. But 
who is this coming thus gloriously along, with masts 
towering to heaven, and his sails white, looming like 
the mountain of snows ? Who is it but "Columbia's first 
and greatest son ! " whose talents, like the sails of a 
mighty ship, spread far and wide, catching the gales 
of heaven, while his capacious soul, stored with the 
rich ballast of religion, remains firm and unshaken as 
the ponderous rock. The warm zephyrs of prosperity 
breathe meltingly upon him — the rough storms of ad- 
versity descend — the big billows of affliction dash : but 
nothing can move him. His eye is fixed on God! the 
present joys of an approving conscience, and the hope 
of that glory which fadeth not away — these comfort 
and support him. 

" There exists," says Washington, " in the economy 
of nature, an inseparable connexion between duty and 
advantage," — the whole life of this great man bears 
glorious witness to the truth of this his favorite apho- 
rism. At the giddy age of fourteen, when the spirits 
of youth are all on tiptoe for freedom and adventures, 
he felt a strong desire to go to sea : but, very opposite 
to his wishes, his mother declared that she could not 
bear to part with him. His trial must have been 
very severe; for I have been told that a midshipman's 
commission was actually in his pocket — his trunk of 
clothes on board the ship — his honour in some sort 
pledged — his young companions importunate with him 
to go — and his whole soul panting for the promised 
pleasures of the voyage. But religion whispered " hon- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 227 

our thy mother, and grieve not the spirit of her who 
bore thee." 

Instantly the glorious boy sacrificed inclination to 
duty — dropt all thought of the voyage — and gave tears 
of joy to his widowed mother, in clasping to her 
bosom a dear child who could deny himself his fondest 
wishes to make her happy, 

'Tis said, that when he saw the last boat going on 
board, with several of his youthful friends in it — 
when he saw the flash, and heard the report of the 
signal gun for sailing, and the ship in all her pride 
of canvas rounding ofif for sea, he could not bear it; 
but turned away; and half choked with grief, went 
into the room where his mother sat. " George, my 
dear ! " said she, " have you already repented that you 
made your mother so happy just now?" Upon this, 
falling on her bosom, with his arms around her neck, 
and a gush of tears, he said : " My dear mother, I 
must not deny that I am sorry. But, indeed, I feel 
that I should be much more sorry, where I on board 
the ship, and knew that you were unhappy." 

"Well," replied she, embracing him tenderly, "God, 
I hope, will reward my dear boy for this, some day 
or other." Now see here, young reader; and learn 
that HE who prescribes our duty, is able to reward it. 
Had George left his fond mother to a broken heart, 
and gone off to sea, 'tis next to certain that he would 
never have taken that active part in the French and 
Indian war, which, by securing him the hearts of his 
countrymen, paved the way for all his future greatness. 

Now for another instance of the wonderful effect 



228 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

of religion on Washington's fortune. Shortly after 
returning from the war of Cuba, Lawrence (his half 
brother) was taken with the consumption, which made 
him so excessively fretful, that his own brother 
Augustin would seldom come near him. But George, 
whose heart was early under the softening and sweet- 
ening influences of religion, felt such a tenderness for 
his poor sick brother, that he not only submitted to 
his peevishness, but seemed, from what I have been 
told, never so happy as when he was with him. He 
accompanied him to the Island of Bermuda, in quest 
of health — and, after their return to Mount Vernon, 
as often as his duty to Lord Fairfax permitted, he 
would come down from the back woods to see him. 
And, while with him, he was always contriving or 
doing something to cheer and comfort his brother. 
Sometimes with his gun he would go out in quest of 
partridges and snipes, and other fine-flavored game, 
to tempt his brother's sickly appetite, and gain him 
strength. At other times he would sit for hours and 
read to him some entertaining book: and, when his 
cough came on, he would support his drooping head, 
and wipe the cold dew from his forehead, or the 
phlegm from his lips, and give him his medicine, or 
smooth his pillow, and all with such alacrity and artless 
tenderness as proved the sweetest cordial to his 
brother's spirits. For he was often heard to say to 
the Fairfax family, into which he married, that " he 
should think nothing of his sickness, if he could but 
always have his brother George with him." Well, 
what was the consequence? Why, when Lawrence 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 229 

was dying, he left almost the whole of his large estate 
to George, which served as another noble step to his 
future greatness. 

For further proof of " the inseparable connexion 
between duty and advantage," let us look at Wash- 
ington's conduct through the French and Indian war. 
To a man of his uncommon military mind, and skill 
in the arts of Indian warfare, the pride and precipi- 
tance of General Braddock must have been excessively 
disgusting and disheartening. But we hear nothing 
of his threatening either to leave or supplant Braddock, 
On the contrary, he nobly brooked his rude manners ; 
gallantly obeyed his rash orders ; and, as far as in him 
lay, endeavoured to correct their fatal tendencies. 

And, after the death of Braddock, and the deser- 
tion of Dunbar, that weak old man, Governor Din- 
widdie, added infinitely to his hardships and hazards, 
by appointing him to the defence of the frontiers, 
and yet withholding the necessary forces and supplies. 
But though by that means the western country was 
continually overrun by the enemy, and cruelly deluged 
in blood — though much wearied in body by marchings 
and watchings, and worse tortured in soul, by the mur- 
ders and desolations of the inhabitants, he shrinks not 
from duty — still seeking the smiles of conscience as his 
greatest good ; and as the sorest evil, dreading its 
frowns, he bravely maintairied his ground, and, after 
three years of unequalled dangers and difficulties, 
succeeded. 

Well, what was the consequence? why it drew 
upon him, from his admiri:ng countrymen, such an 



230 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

unbounded confidence in his principles and patriotism, 
as secured him the command of the American armies, 
in the revolutionary war ! 

And there again the connexion between " duty and 
advantage," was as gloriously displayed. For though 
congress was, in legal and political knowledge, an 
enlightened body, and for patriotism equal to the 
senate of Republican Rome, yet certainly in military 
matters they were no more to be compared to him, 
than those others were to Hannibal. But still, though 
they were constantly thwarting his counsels, and, in 
place of good soldiers, sending him raw militia, thus 
compelling inactivity, or insuring defeat — dragging out 
the war — dispiriting the nation — and disgracing him, 
yet we hear from him no gusts of passion — no dark 
intrigues to supplant congress — and with the help of 
an idolizing nation and army, to snatch the power from 
their hands, and make himself king. On the con- 
trary, he continues to treat congress as a virtuous 
son his respected parents. He points out wiser meas- 
ures, but in defect of their adoption, makes the best 
use of those they give him; at length, through the 
mighty blessing of God, established the independence 
of his country ; and then vv^ent back to his plough. 

Well, what was the consequence? Why, these 
noble acts so completely filled up the measure of his 
country's love for him, as to give him that first of all 
felicities, the felicity to be regarded as the guardian 
angel of his country, and to be able, by the magic of 
his name, to scatter every cloud of danger that gath- 
ered over her head. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 231 

For example, at the close of the war, when the 
army, about to be disbanded without their wages, 
were wrought uj) to such a pitch of discontent and 
rage, as seriously to threaten civil war, see the won- 
derful influence which their love for him gave him 
over themselves ! In the height of their passion, and 
that a very natural passion too, he merely makes a 
short speech to them, and the storm is laid ! the tumult 
subsides! and the soldiers, after all their hardships, 
consent to ground their arms, and return home without 
a penny in their pockets ! ! ! 

Also, in that very alarming dispute between Ver- 
mont and Pennsylvania, when the furious parties, in 
spite of all the efforts of congress and their governors, 
had actually shouldered their guns, and were drag- 
ging on their cannon for a bloody fight — Washington 
only gave them a few lines of his advice, and they 
instantly faced about for their homes ; and laying by 
their weapons, seized their ploughs again, like dutiful 
children, on whose kindling passions a beloved father 
had shaken his hoary locks ! ! 

And, in the western counties of Pe'nnsylvania, 
where certain blind patriots affecting to strain at the 
gnat of a small excise, but ready enough to swallow 
the infernal camel of rebellion, had kindled the flames 
of civil war, and thrown the whole nation into a 
tremor, Washington had just to send around a cir- 
cular to the people of the union, stating the infinite 
importance of maintaining the sacred reign of the 
laws, and instantly twenty thousand well armed volun- 
teers marched among the insurgents, and, without 



232 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

shedding a drop of blood, extinguished the insurrection. 

In short, it were endless to enumerate the many 
dire insurrections and bloody wars which were 
averted from this country by Washington, and all 
through the divine force of early Religion! for it was 
this that enabled him inflexibly to do his duty, by 
imitating God in his glorious works of wisdom and 
benevolence; and all the rest followed as naturally as 
light follows the sun. 

We have seen, at page 27 of this little work, with 
what pleasure the youthful Washington hung upon 
his father's lip, while descanting on the adorable wis- 
dom and benevolent designs of God in all parts of this 
beautiful and harmonious creation. By such lessons 
in the book of nature, this virtuous youth was easily 
prepared for the far higher and surer lectures of 
revelation, I mean that blessed gospel which con- 
tains the moral philosophy of heaven. There he learnt, 
that " God is love ; " — and that all he desires, with 
respect to men, is to glorify himself in their happiness ; 
and since virtue is indispensable to that happiness, the 
infinite and eternal weight of God's attributes must be 
in favour of virtue, and against vice; and consequently 
that God will sooner or later gloriously reward the one, 
and punish the other. This was the creed of Wash- 
ington. And looking on it as the only basis of human 
virtue and happiness, he very cordially embraced it 
himself, and wished for nothing so much as to see all 
others embrace it. 

I have often been informed by Colonel B. Temple, 
(of King William County, Virginia,) who was one of 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 233 

his aids in the French and Indian war, that he has 
frequently known Washington, on the Sabbath, to 
read scriptures and pray with his regiment, in the 
absence of the chaplain ; and also that, on sudden and 
unexpected visits into his marquee, he has, more than 
once, found him on his knees at his devotions. 

The Reverend Mr. Lee Massey, long a rector of 
Washington's parish, and from early life his intimate, 
has frequently assured me, that " he never knew so 
constant an attendant on church as Washington. And 
his behaviour in the house of God," added my reverend 
friend, " was so deeply reverential, that it produced 
the happiest effects on my congregation ; and greatly 
assisted me in my moralizing labours. No company 
ever withheld him from church. I have often been 
at Mount Vernon, on the Sabbath morning, when his 
breakfast table was filled with guests. But to him 
they furnished no pretext for neglecting his God, and 
losing the satisfaction of setting a good example. For 
instead of staying at home, out of false complaisance 
to them, he used constantly to invite them to accom- 
pany him." 

His secretary. Judge Harrison, has frequently been 
heard to say, that " whenever the general could be 
spared from camp on the Sabbath, he never failed 
riding out to some neighbouring church, to join those 
who were publicly worshipping the great Creator." 

And while he resided in Philadelphia, as president 
of the United States, his constant and cheerful atten- 
dance on divine service was such as to convince every 
reflecting mind, that he deemed no levee so honour- 



234 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

able as that of his Almighty Maker; no pleasures 
equal to those of devotion ; and no business a sufficient 
excuse for neglecting his supreme benefactor. 

In the winter of ^'jy, while Washington, with the 
American army, lay encamped at Valley Forge, a cer- 
tain good old friend, of the respectable family and 
name of Potts, if I mistake not, had occasion to pass 
through the woods near headquarters. Treading in 
his way along the venerable grove, suddenly he heard 
the sound of a human voice, which, as he advanced, 
increased on his ear ; and at length became like the 
voice of one speaking much in earnest. As he ap- 
proached the spot with a cautious step, whom should 
he behold, in a dark natural bower of ancient oaks, 
but the commander in chief of the American armies 
on his knees at prayer! Motionless with surprise, 
friend Potts continued on the place till the general, 
having ended his devotions, arose ; and, with a coun- 
tenance of angelic serenity, retired to headquarters. 
Friend Potts then went home, and on entering his 
parlour called out to his wife, " Sarah ! my dear 
Sarah ! all's well ! all's well ! George Washington will 
yet prevail ! " 

"What's the matter, Isaac?" replied she, "thee 
seems moved." 

" Well, if I seem moved, 'tis no more than what I 
really am. I have this day seen what I never ex- 
pected. Thee knows that I always thought that the 
sword and the gospel were utterly inconsistent, and 
that no man could be a soldier and a Christian at the 
same time. But George Washington has this day con- 
vinced me of my mistake." 



THE iLIFE OF WASHINGTON 235 

He then related what he had seen, and conckided 
with this prophetical remark — " If George Washington 
be not a man of God, I am greatly deceived — and still 
more shall I be deceived, if God do not, through him, 
work out a great salvation for America." 

When General Washington was told that the British 
troops at Lexington, on the memorable 19th of April, 
1775, had fired on and killed several of the Americans, 
he replied, " I grieve for the death of my countrymen ; 
but rejoice that the British are still so determined to 
keep God on our side," alluding to that noble senti- 
ment which he has since so happily expressed; viz. 
" The smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a 
nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and 
right, which Heaven itself has ordained." 

When called by his country in 1775, to lead her 
free-born sons against the arms of Britain, what charm- 
ing modesty, what noble self-distrust, what pious con- 
fidence in Heaven, appeared in all his answers. " My 
diffidence in my own abilities," says he, " was super- 
seded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, 
and the patronage of Heaven." 

And when called to the presidency by the unani- 
mous voice of the nation, thanking him for his great 
services past, with anticipations of equally great to 
come, his answer deserves approbation. 

" When I contemplate the interposition of Provi- 
dence, as it was visibly manifested in guiding us 
through the revolution — in preparing us for the re- 
ception of a general government — and in conciliating 
the good will of the people of America towards one 
another after its adoption ; I feel myself oppressed 



236 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

and almost overwhelmed with a sense of the divine 
munificence. I feel that nothing is due to my per- 
sonal agency in all those complicated and wonderful 
events, except what can simply be attributed to the 
exertions of an honest zeal for the good of my country." 

And when he presented himself for the first time 
before that august body, the Congress of the United 
States, April 30th, 1789 — when he saw before him the 
pride of Columbia in her chosen sons, assembled to 
consult how best to strengthen the chain of love be- 
tween the states — to preserve friendship and harmony 
with foreign powers — to secure the blessings of civil 
and religious liberty — and to build up our young re- 
public a great and happy people among the nations 
of the earth — never patriot entered on such impor- 
tant business with fairer hopes, whether we consider 
the unanimity and confidence of the citizens, or his 
own abilities and virtues, and those of his fellow- 
counsellors. 

But all this would not do. Nothing short of the 
divine friendship could satisfy Washington. Feeling 
the magnitude, difficulty, and danger of managing such 
an assemblage of communities and interests ; dreading 
the machinations of bad men, and well knowing the 
insufficiency of all second causes, even the best, he 
piously reminds congress of the wisdom of imploring 
the benediction of the great first cause, without which 
he knew that his beloved country would never prosper. 

" It would," says he, " be peculiarly improper to 
omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications 
to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe; 
who presides in the councils of nations; and whose 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 237 

providential aids can supply every human defect, that 
his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and 
happiness of the people of the United States, a gov- 
ernment instituted by themselves for these essential 
purposes; and may enable every instrument employed 
in its administration to execute with success the func- 
tions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage 
to the great Author of every public and private good, 
I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not 
less than my own ; nor those of my fellow citizens at 
large less than either. No people can be bound to 
acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which con- 
ducts the affairs of men, more than the people of the 
United States. Every step, by which they have ad- 
vanced to the character of an independent nation, 
seems to have been distinguished by some token of 
providential agency. These reflections, arising out of 
the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly 
on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me, 
I trust, in thinking, that there are none, under the in- 
fluence of which the proceedings of a new and free 
government can more auspiciously commence." 

And after having come near to the close of this, 
the most sensible and virtuous speech ever made to 
a sensible and virtuous representation of a free people, 
he adds — " I shall take my present leave ; but not 
without resorting once more to the benign Parent of 
the human race in humble supplication, that, since he 
has been pleased to favour the American people with 
opportunities for deliberating with perfect tranquillity, 
and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unani- 
mity, on a form of government for the security of 



238 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

their union, and the advancement of their happiness ; 
so his divine blessings may be equally conspicuous in 
the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and 
the wise measures, on which the success of this gov- 
ernment must depend." 

In this constant disposition to look for national 
happiness only in national morals, flowing from the 
sublime affections and blessed hopes of Religion, 
Washington agreed with those great legislators of 
nations, Moses, Lycurgus, and Numa. " I ask not 
gold for Spartans," said Lycurgus. " Virtue is better 
than all gold." The event showed his wisdom — 
The Spartans were invincible so long as they remained 
virtuous — even 500 years. 

" I ask not wealth for Israel," cried Moses! " But 
O that they were wise ! — that they did but fear God 
and keep his commandments! The Lord himself 
would be their sun and shield." The event proved 
Moses a true prophet. For while they were religious 
they were unconquerable. " United as brothers, swift 
as eagles, stronger than lions, one could chase a 
thousand; and two put ten thousand to flight." 

" Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to 
the prosperity of a nation," says Washington, 
" Religion is the indispensable support. Volumes 
could not trace all its connexions with private and 
public happiness. Let it simply be asked, where is 
the security for property, for reputation, for life itself, 
if there be no fear of God on the minds of those who 
give their oaths in courts of justice." 

But some will tell us, that human laws are suffi- 
cient for the purpose! 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 239 

Human laws ! — human nonsense ! For how often, 
even where the cries and screams of the wretched 
called aloud for lightning speeded vengeance, have 
we not seen the sword of human law loiter in its 
coward scabbard, afraid of angry royalty? Did not 
that vile queen Jezebel, having a mind to compliment 
her husband with a vineyard belonging to poor Naboth, 
suborn a couple of villains to take a false oath against 
him ; and then cause him to be dragged out with his 
little motherless, crying babes, and barbarously stoned 
to death. 

Great God ! what bloody tragedies have been acted 
on the poor ones of the earth by kings and great 
men, who were above the laws, and had no sense of 
Religion to keep them in awe! And if men be not 
above the laws, yet what horrid crimes ! what ruinous 
robberies ! what wide-wasting havoc ! what cruel 
murders may they not commit in secret, if they be 
not withheld by the sacred arm of religion ! " In 
vain, therefore," says Washington, " would that man 
claim the tribute of patriotism, who should do any 
thing to discountenance Religion and morality, those 
great pillars of human happiness, those firmest props 
of the duties of men and citizens. The mere poli- 
tician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect 
and cherish them." 

But others have said, and with a serious face too, 
that a sense of honour is sufficient to preserve men 
from base actions ! O blasphemy to sense ! Do we 
not daily hear of men of honour, by dice and cards, 
draining their fellow citizens of the last cent, reducing 
them to beggary, or driving them to a pistol? Do 



240 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

we not daily hear of men of honour corrupting their 
neighbours' wives and daughters and then murdering 
the husbands and brothers in duels? Bind such selfish, 
such inhuman beings, by a sense of honour ! ! why not 
bind roaring lions with cobwebs ? " No," exclaims 
Washington, " whatever a sense of honour may do 
on men of refined education, and on minds of a peculiar 
structure, reason and experience both forbid us to 
expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion 
of Religious principles." 

And truly Washington had abundant reason, from 
his own happy experience, to recommend Religion so 
heartily to others. 

For besides all those inestimable favours which 
he received from her at the hands of her celestial 
daughters, the Virtues; she threw over him her own 
magic mantle of Character. And it was this that im- 
mortalized Washington. By inspiring his countrymen 
with the profoundest veneration for him as the best 
of men, it naturally smoothed his way to supreme 
command; so that when War, that monster of Satan, 
came on roaring against America, with all his death's 
heads and garments rolled in blood, the nation unani- 
mously placed Washington at the head of their armies, 
from a natural persuasion that so good a man must 
be the peculiar favourite of Heaven, and the fastest 
friend of his country. How far this precious instinct 
in favour of goodness was correct, or how far Wash- 
ington's conduct was honourable to Religion and 
glorious to himself and country, bright ages to come 
and happy millions yet unborn, will, we confidently 
hope, declare to the most distant posterity. 



CHAPTER XIV 

Washington's character continued 
HIS benevolence 

This only can the bliss bestow 
Immortal souls should prove; 
From one short word all pleasures flow, 
That blessed word is — Love. 

If ever man rejoiced in the divine administration, 
and cordially endeavoured to imitate it by doing good, 
George Washington was that man. Taught by re- 
ligion that " God is love," he wisely concluded those 
the most happy who love the most; and, taught by 
experience that it is love alone that gives a partici- 
pation and interest in others, capacitating us to rejoice 
with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who 
weep, he early studied that benevolence which ren- 
dered him so singularly the delight of mankind. 

The Marquis De Chastellux, who visited him in 
camp, tells us that " he was astonished and delighted 
to see the great American living among his officers 
and men as a father among his children, who at once 
revered and loved him with a filial tenderness." 

Brissot, another famous French traveller, assures 
us, that " throughout the continent every body spoke 
of Washington as of a father." 

The dearest and best of all appellations, " The 
father of his country," was the neutral fruit of that 
benevolence which he so carefully cultivated through 
16 241 



242 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

life. A singular instance of which we meet with in 
1754, and the 22nd year of his age. 

He was stationed at Alexandria with his regiment, 
the only one in the colony, and of which he was 
colonel. There happened at this time to be an election 
in Alexandria for members of the assembly: and the 
contest ran high between Colonel George Fairfax 
and Mr. Elzey. Washington was the warm friend 
of Fairfax: and a Mr. Payne headed the friends of 
Elzey. A dispute happening to take place in the 
court-house yard, Washington, a thing very uncom- 
mon with him, became warm; and, which was still 
more uncommon, said something that offended Payne ; 
whereupon the little gentleman, who, though but a 
cub in size, was the old lion in heart, raised his sturdy 
hickory, and, at a single blow, brought our hero to 
the ground. Several of Washington's officers being 
present, whipped out their cold irons in an instant: 
and it was believed that there would have been murder 
off-hand. To make bad worse, his regiment, hearing 
how he had been treated, bolted out from their bar- 
racks, with every man his weapon in his hand, threat- 
ening dreadful vengeance on those who had dared to 
knock down their beloved colonel. Happily for Mr. 
Payne and his party, Washington recovered, time 
enough to go out and meet his enraged soldiers: and, 
after thanking them for this expression of their love, 
and assuring them that he was not hurt in the least, 
he begged them, as they loved him or their duty, to 
return peaceably to their barracks. As for himself, 
he went to his room, generously chastising his im^ 
prudence, which had thus struck up a spark that had 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 243 

like to have thrown the whole town into a flame. 
Finding on mature reflection, that he had been the 
aggressor, he resolved to make Mr. Payne honourable 
reparation, by asking his pardon on the morrow ! No 
sooner had he made this noble resolution, than, re- 
covering that delicious gaiety which accompanies good 
purposes in a virtuous mind, he went to a ball that 
night, and behaved as pleasantly as though nothing 
had happened! Glorious proof, that great souls, like 
great ships, are not affected by those little puffs which 
would overset feeble minds with passion, or sink them 
with spleen! 

The next day he went to a tavern, and wrote a 
polite note to Mr. Payne, whom he requested to meet 
him. Mr. Payne took it for a challenge, and repaired 
to the tavern, not without expecting to see a pair of 
pistols produced. But what was his surprise on enter- 
ing the chamber, to see a decanter of wine and glasses 
on the table ! Washington arose, and in a very friendly 
manner met him ; and gave him his hand. " Mr. 
Payne," said he, "to err is nature: to rectify error is 
glory. I find I was wrong yesterday: but I wish to 
be right to-day. You have had some satisfaction : and 
if you think that sufficient, here's my hand ; let us be 
friends." 

Admirable youth! Noble speech! No wonder, 
since it charms us so, that it had such an effect on Mr. 
Payne, who from that moment became the most ardent 
admirer and friend of Washington, and ready at any 
time, for his sake, to charge up to a battery of two 
and forty pounders. 

What a lesson for our young countrymen! Had 



244 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

Washington been one of the race of little men, how 
sadly different would have been his conduct on this 
occasion ! Instead of going that night to the ball, and 
acting the lively agreeable friend, he would, like an 
angry viper that had been trod on, have retired to 
his chamber. There he would have found no such 
entertainment as Washington had at this ball; no 
sprightly music, no delicious wines, no sweetly smiling 
friends. On the contrary, all the tortures of a soul 
brooding over its indignities, until reflection had 
whipped it up into pangs of rage unutterable, while 
all the demons of hell, with blood-stained torches point- 
ing at his bleeding honour, cried out " revenge ! re- 
venge ! revenge ! " There in his chamber, he would 
have passed the gloomy night preparing his pistols, 
moulding his bullets, or with furious looks driving 
them through the body of his enemy chalked on the 
wall. The next morning would have seen him on the 
field, and in language lately heard in this state, calling 
out to his hated antagonist, You have injured me, sir, 

beyond reconciliation : and by I'll kill you if I 

can. While his antagonist, in a style equally musical 

and Christian, would have rejoined. Kill, and be ! 

Pop go the pistols — down tumbles one of the com- 
batants ; while the murderer, with knocking knees and 
looks of Cain, flies from the avenger of blood! The 
murdered man is carried to his house, a ghastly, bloody 
corpse. Merciful God ! what a scene ensues ! some are 
stupefied with horror ! others sink lifeless to the floor ! 
His tender sisters, wild shrieking with despair, throw 
themselves on their dead brother and kiss his ice-cold 
lips; while his aged parents, crushed under unutter- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 245 

able woe, go down in their snowy locks broken-hearted 
to the grave. 

Thus bloody and miserable might have been the 
end of Washington or of Payne, had Washington been 
one of those poor deluded young men, who are de- 
termined to be great; and so be brought forward in 
newspapers, in spite of God or devil. But Wash- 
ington was not born to exemplify those horrid trage- 
dies, which cowards create in society by pusillani- 
mously giving way to their bad passions. No — he 
was born to teach his countrymen what sweet peace 
and harmony might for ever smile in the habitations 
of men, if all had but the courage, like himself, to 
obey the sacred voice of justice and humanity. By 
firmly obeying these, he preserved his hands unstained 
by the blood of a fellow man; and his soul unhar- 
rowed by the cruel tooth of never-dying remorse. By 
firmly obeying these, he preserved a life which, 
crowned with deeds of justice and benevolence, has 
brought more glory to God, more good to man, and 
more honor to himself, than any life ever spent since 
the race of man began. 

Sons of Columbia! would you know what is true 
courage? see it defined, see it exemplified in this act 
of your young but great countryman. Never man 
possessed a more undaunted courage, than Washington. 
But in him this noble quality was the lifeguard of his 
reason, not the assassin ; a ready servant to obey her 
commands, not a bully to insult them; a champion to 
defend his neighbour's rights, not a tyrant to invade 
them. Transported by sudden passion, to which all 
are liable, he offended Mr. Payne, who resented it 



246 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

rather too roughly, by knocking him down on the 
spot. Washington had it in his power to have taken 
ample revenge : and cowards who have no command 
over their passions, would have done it. But duty for- 
bade him : and he had the courage to obey. Reason 
whispered the folly of harbouring black passions in 
his soul, poisoning his peace. He instantly banished 
them; and went to a ball, to drink sweet streams of 
friendship from the eyes of happy friends. Again 
reason whispered him, that having been the aggressor, 
he ought to ask Payne's pardon, and compromise the 
difference with him. In this also he had the courage 
to obey her sacred voice. 

In what history, ancient or modern, sacred or pro- 
fane, can you find, in so young a man, only twenty- 
two, such an instance of that true heroic valour 
which combats malignant passions — conquers unrea- 
sonable self — rejects the hell of hatred, and invites 
the heaven of love into our own bosoms, and into 
those of our brethren with whom we may have quar- 
relled? Joseph forgiving his brethren in the land of 
Egypt; David sparing that inveterate seeker of his 
life, Saul; Sir Walter Raleigh pardoning the young 
man who spit in his face ; afford, it is true, charming 
specimens of the sublime and beautiful in action: cer- 
tainly, such men are worthies of the world, and bright- 
est ornaments of human nature. But yet none of them 
have gone beyond Washington in the affair of Payne. 

A few years after this, Payne had a cause tried in 
Fairfax court. Washington happened on that day to 
be in the house. The lawyer on the other side, finding 
he was going fast to leeward, thought he would luff 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 247 

up with a whole broadside at Payne's character: and, 
after raking him fore and aft with abuse, he artfully 
bore away under the lee of the jury's prejudices, which 
he endeavoured to inflame against him. " Yes, please 
your worships," continued he, " as a proof that this 
Payne is a most turbulent fellow, and capable of all 
I tell you, be pleased to remember, gentlemen of the 
jury, that this is the very man, who some time ago 
treated our beloved Colonel Washington so barbarously. 
Yes, this is the wretch, who dared, in this very court- 
house yard, to lift up his impious hand against that 
greatest and best of men, and knocked him down as 
though he had been a bullock of the stalls." 

This, roared in a thundering tone, and with a tre- 
mendous stamp on the floor, made Payne look very 
dejected ; for he saw the countenance of the court 
beginning to blacken on him. But Washington rose 
immediately, and thus addressed the bench : 

"As to Mr. Payne's character, may it please your 
worships," said he, " we all have the satisfaction to 
know that it is perfectly unexceptionable : and with 
respect to the little difference which formerly hap- 
pened between that gentleman and myself, it was in- 
stantly made up: and we have lived on the best terms 
ever since: moreover, I wish all my acquaintance to 
know, that I entirely acquit Mr. Payne of blame in 
that aff'air, and take it all on myself as the aggressor," 

Payne used often to relate another anecdote of 
Washington, which reflects equal honour on the 
goodness of his heart. 

" Immediately after the war," said he, " when the 
conquering hero was returning in peace to his home, 



248 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

with the laurels of victory green and flourishing on 
his head, I felt a great desire to see him, and so set 
out for Mount Vernon. As I drew near the house, 
I began to experience a rising fear, lest he should 
call to mind the blow I had given him in former days. 
However, animating myself, I pushed on. Washington 
met me at the door with a smiling welcome, and pres- 
ently led me into an adjoining room, where Mrs. Wash- 
ington sat. " Here, my dear," said he, presenting me 
to his lady, " here is the little man you have so often 
heard me talk of ; and who, on a difference between 
us one day, had the resolution, to knock me down, big 
as I am. I know you will honour him as he deserves ; 
for I assure you he has the heart of a true Virginian." 
" He said this," continued Mr. Payne, " with an air 
which convinced me that his long familiarity with war 
had not robbed him of a single spark of the goodness 
and nobleness of his heart. And Mrs. Washington 
looked at him, I thought, with a something in her eyes, 
which showed that he appeared to her greater and 
lovelier than ever." 

A good tree, saith the divine teacher, bringeth forth 
good fruit. No wonder then that we meet with so 
many and such delicious fruits of charity in Wash- 
ington, whose soul was so rich in benevolence. 

In consequence of his wealth and large landed pos- 
sessions, he had visits innumerable from the poor. 
Knowing the great value of time and of good tempers 
to them, he could not bear that they should lose either, 
by long waiting and shuffling, and blowing their fingers 
at his door. He had a room set apart for the reception 
of such poor persons as had business with him: and 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 249 

the porter had orders to conduct them into it, and to 
inform him immediately. And so affectionately atten- 
tive was he to them, that if he was in company with 
the greatest characters on the continent, when his ser- 
vant informed him that a poor man wished to speak to 
him, he would instantly beg them to excuse him for a 
moment, and go and wait on him. 

Washington's conduct showed that he disliked 
another practice, too common among some great men, 
who, not having the power to say, yes, nor the heart 
to say no, to a poor man, are fain to put him off with 
a " come again ; come again ; " and thus trot him 
backwards and forwards, wasting his time, wearing 
out his patience and shoes, and after all give him the 
mortification of a disappointment. 

Washington could not be guilty of such cruel kind- 
ness. If he could not oblige a poor applicant, he would 
candidly tell him so at once : but then the goodness of 
his heart painted his regret so sensibly on his coun- 
tenance, that even his refusals made him friends. 

A poor Irishman, wanting a small farm, and hear- 
ing that Washington had one to rent, waited on him. 
Washington told him that he was sincerely sorry that 
he could not assist him ; for he had just disposed of 
it. The poor man took his leave, but not without 
returning him a thousand thanks ! Ah, do you thank 
me so heartily for a refusal ! " Yes, upon my shoul, 
now plase your excellency's honour, and I do thank 
you a thousand times. For many a great man would 
have kept me waiting like a black negro. But your 
excellency's honour has told me straight off hand that 
you are sorry and God bless you for it, that you can't 



250 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

help me — and so your honour has done my business 
for me, in no time, and less." 

The Potomac abounds with the finest herrings in 
the world, which, when salted, furnish not only to 
the wealthy a charming relish for their tea and coffee, 
but also to the poor a delicious substitute for bacon. 
But, fond as they are of this small boned bacon, as 
they call it, many of them have not the means to pro- 
cure it. Washington's heart felt for these poor people ; 
and provided a remedy. He ordered a seine and a 
batteau to be kept on one of the best fishing shores, 
on purpose for the poor. If the batteau were lost, or 
the seine spoilt, which was often the case, he had 
them replaced with new ones immediately. And if 
the poor who came for fish were too weak handed to 
haul the seine themselves, they needed but to apply 
to the overseer, who had orders from Washington to 
send hands to help them. Thus all the poor had it in 
their power to come down in the season, and catch 
the finest fish for themselves and their families. In 
what silver floods were ever yet caught the herrings, 
which could have given to Washington what he tasted, 
on seeing the poor driving away from his shores, with 
carts laden with delicious fish, and carrying home, 
whooping and singing to their smiling wives and chil- 
dren, the rich prize, a whole year's plenty. 

In all his charities, he discovered great judgment 
and care in selecting proper objects. Character was 
the main chance. Mount Vernon had no charms for 
lazy, drunken, worthless beggars. Persons of that 
description knew very well that they must take their 
application elsewhere. He never failed to remind them 
of the great crime of robbing the public of their ser- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 251 

vices, and also the exceeding cruelty and injustice of 
snapping up from the really indigent, what little charity 
bread was stirring. But if the character were good — 
if the poor petitioner were a sober, honest, and indus- 
trious person, whom Providence had by sickness or 
losses reduced to want — he found a brother in Wash- 
ington. It is incredible what quantities of wool, corn, 
bacon, flour, clothes, &c. were annually distributed to 
the poor, from the almost exhaustless heap, which the 
blessings of Heaven bestowed on this, its industrious 
and faithful steward. 

" I had orders," said Mr. Peake, a sensible, honest 
manager of one of Washington's plantations, '' to fill a 
corn-house every year, for the sole use of the poor in 
my neighbourhood ! to whom it was a most seasonable 
and precious relief ; saving numbers of poor women 
and children from miserable famine, and blessing them 
with a cheerful plenteousness of bread." 

Mr. Lund Washington, long a manager of his 
Mount Vernon estate, had similar orders. One year 
when corn was so dear (a dollar per bushel) that 
numbers of the poor were on the point of starving, 
Mr. L. Washington, by order of the general, not only 
gave away all that could be spared from the granaries, 
but bought at that dear rate, several hundred bushels 
for them! 

Anecdote of Washington. — The town of Alexan- 
dria, which now flourishes like a green bay tree, on 
the waters of the Potomac, was, 50 years ago, but a 
small village. But though small, it was lovely. Situ- 
ated on the fine plain which banks the western margin 
of the river, and with snow white domes glistening 
through the trees that shook their green heads over 



252 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the silver flood, it formed a view highly romantic and 
beautiful. Hence the name of the place at first was 
Bellhaven. But, with all the beauties to the eye. Bell- 
haven had no charms for the palate. Not that the 
neighbourhood of Bellhaven was a desert ; on the con- 
trary, it was, in many places, a garden spot abounding 
with luxuries. But its inhabitants, though wealthy, 
were not wise. By the successful culture of tobacco 
they had made money. And having filled their coach- 
houses with gilt carriages, and their dining rooms with 
gilt glasses, they began to look down on the poorer 
sort, and to talk about families. Of course it would 
never do for such great people to run market carts ! ! 
Hence the poor Bellhavenites, though embosomed in 
plenty were often in danger of gnawing their nails; 
and unless they could cater a lamb from some good- 
natured peasant, or a leash of chickens from the Sun- 
day negroes, were obliged to sit down with long faces 
to a half-graced dinner of salt meat and Johnny cake. 
This was the order of the day, A. D. '59, when Wash- 
ington, just married to the wealthy young Mrs. Custis, 
had settled at Mount Vernon, nine miles below Bell- 
haven. The unpleasant situation of the families at that 
place soon reached his ear. To a man of his character, 
with too much spirit to follow a bad example, when 
he had the power to set a good one, and too much wit 
to look for happiness any where but in his own bosom, 
it could not long be questionable what part he had to 
act. A market cart was instantly constructed; and 
regularly, three times a week, sent off to Bellhaven, 
filled with nice roasters, kidney covered lamb and veal, 
green geese, fat ducks, chickens by the basket, fresh 
butter, new laid eggs, vegetables, and fruit of all sorts. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 253 

Country gentlemen, dining with their friends in town, 
very soon marked the welcome change of diet. " Bless 
us all! " exclaimed they, " what's the meaning of this? 
you invited us to family fare, and here you've given us 
a lord mayor's feast." " Yes," replied the others, 
" thank God for sending Colonel Washington into our 
neighbourhood." Thus, it was discovered, to the ex- 
treme mortification of some of the little great ones, 
that Colonel Washington should ever have run a market 
cart ! ! But the better sort, who generally, thank God, 
have sense enough to be led right, provided they can 
get a leader, soon fell into the track : and market carts 
were soon seen travelling in abundance to town with 
every delicacy of the animal and vegetable republics. 

Thus the hungry wall which pride had raised against 
Bellhaven was happily demolished. A flood tide of 
blessings rolled in from the neighbouring country. The 
hearts of the merchants felt a fresh pulse of love for 
their brothers, the farmers : and even the little children, 
with cheeks red as the apples they seized, were taught 
to lisp the praises of God. And all this, reader, through 
the active benevolence of one man. 

The following anecdote was related to me by his 
excellency Governor Johnson (Maryland), one of the 
few surviving heroes of ^"J^. 

" You seem, sir," said he addressing himself to me, 
" very fond of collecting anecdotes of Gen. Washing- 
ton. Well, I'll tell you one, to which you may attach 
the most entire faith : for I have heard it a dozen times 
and oftener, from the lips of a very valuable man and 
a magistrate, in Conestoga, a Mr. Conrad Hogmyer." 
" Just before the revolutionary war," said Mr. Hog- 
myer, " I took a trip for my health's sake to the Sweet 



254 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

Springs of Virginia, where I found a world of people 
collected ; some, like me, looking for health, others for 
pleasure. In consequence of the crowd, I was at first 
rather hard run for lodgings ; but at length was lucky 
enough to get a mattress in the hut of a very honest 
baker of my acquaintance, who often visited the springs 
for the benefit of his oven. Being the only man of the 
trade on the turf, and well skilled in the science of 
dough, he met with no small encouragement: and it 
was really a subject of surprise to see the heaps of 
English loaves, Indian pones, French bricks, cakes, and 
crackers, which lay piled on his counter every morn- 
ing. I often amused myself in marking the various 
airs and manners of the different waiters, who, in 
gay liveries and shining faces, came every morning, 
rattling down their silver, and tripping away with their 
bread by the basket. Among those gay looking sons 
and daughters of Africa, I saw every now and then, 
a poor Lazarite, with sallow cheek and hollow eye, 
slowly creeping to the door, and at a nod from the 
baker, eagerly seize a fine loaf and bear it off without 
depositing a cent. Surely, thought I to myself, this 
baker must be the best man, or the greatest fool in the 
world. But fearing that this latter cap best fitted his 
pericranium, I one morning could not help breaking 
my mind to him, for crediting his bread to such very 
unpromising dealers. " Stophel," for that was his 
name, " you seem," said I, " to sell a world of bread 
here every day ; but, notwithstanding that, I fear you 
don't gain much by it." 

" No ! 'squire ? What makes you think so ? " 

" You credit too much, Stophel." 

" Not I indeed, sir, not I, I don't credit a penny." 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 255 

"Ay! how do you make that out, Stophel, don't 
I see the poor people every day carrying away your 
bread, and yet paying you nothing ? " 

" Pshaw, no matter for that, 'squire. They l\ pay 
me all in a lump at last." 

"At last ! At last ! O ho, at the last day, I suppose 
you mean, Stophel; when you have the conscience to 
expect that God Almighty will stand paymaster, and 
wipe off all your old scores for you, at a dash." 

" Oh no ! 'squire, we poor bakers can't give such 
long credit ! but I'll tell you how we work the matter. 
The good man Colonel George Washington is here. 
Every season as soon as he comes, he calls and says 
to me, ' Stophel, you seem to have a great deal of com- 
pany; and some, I fear, who don't come here for 
pleasure, and yet, you know, they can't do without 
eating. Though pale and sickly, they must have bread. 
But it will never do to make them pay for it. Poor 
creatures ! they seem already low spirited enough 
through sickness and poverty. Their spirits must not 
be sunk lower by taking from them every day what 
little money they have pinched from their poor families 
at home. I'll tell you what's to be done, Stophel. You 
must give each of them a good hot loaf every morning ; 
and charge it to me. When I am going away, I'll pay 
you all ! ' And believe me, 'squire, he has often, at the 
end of the season, paid me as much as 80 dollars, and 
that too for poor creatures who did not know the hand 
that fed them ; for I had strict orders from him not to 
mention a syllable of it to any body." 

But though so kind to the bodies, Washington was 
still more kind and costly in his charities to the minds 
of the poor. Sensible that a republican government, 



256 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

that is, a government of the people, can never long 
subsist where the minds of the people are not enlight- 
ened, he earnestly recommended it to the citizens of 
the United States, to promote, as an object of primary 
importance, institutions for the general diffusion of 
knowledge. In this, as indeed in all other cases where 
any thing great or good was to be done, Washington 
led the way. 

He established a charity school in Alexandria, and 
endowed it with a donation of four thousand dollars. 
The interest was regularly paid and expended on the 
education of fifteen boys. My young friend, the rever- 
end Mr. Wiley, who, for talents, taste, and classical 
erudition, has few superiors in America, was educated 
by Washington. 

In 1785, the assembly of his native state, Virginia, 
" desirous to embrace," as they said, " every suitable 
occasion of testifying their sense of the unexampled 
merits of George Washington, Esq.," presented him 
with fifty shares in the Potomac, and one hundred 
shares in the James River Navigation Company, mak- 
ing, in the whole, the important sum of ten thousand 
pounds sterling! 

Of this public act, they requested the governor to 
transmit Washington a copy. In answer he addressed 
a letter to the governor, in which, " I take the liberty," 
says he, " of returning to the general assembly, through 
your hands, the profound and grateful acknowledg- 
ments inspired by so signal a mark of their beneficent 
intentions towards me." 

He goes on to beg that they would excuse his de- 
termined resolution not to accept a farthing of it for 
his own use — " But," continued he, " if it should please 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 257 

the general assembly to permit me to turn the destina- 
tion of the fund vested in me, from my private emolu- 
ment, to objects of a public nature, it shall be my 
study, in selecting, to prove the sincerity of my grati- 
tude for the honour conferred on me, by preferring 
such as may appear most subservient to the enlightened 
and patriotic view of the legislature." 

They were cheerfully submitted to his disposal ; 
and, according to promise, he appropriated them to 
works of the greatest utility : viz : his shares in James 
River canal, to a college in Rockbridge county, near 
the waters of James River; and his Potomac shares 
to a national university, to be erected in the federal 
district, on the great Potomac. 

How noble and disinterested were his wishes for 
the good of his country! As if incapable of being 
satisfied with all that he had done for her while living, 
he endeavoured, by founding those noble institutions 
for the diffusion of knowledge and virtue, to make 
himself her benefactor when he should cease to live in 
this sublunary world. 

Since the idea is perfectly correct, that the great 
Governor of the world must look with peculiar be- 
nignity on those of his children who most nearly re- 
semble him in benevolence, may we not indulge the 
pleasing hope, that these colleges, founded by such a 
hand, shall prove the nurseries of the brightest genius 
and virtue; and that from their sacred halls will pro- 
ceed in endless succession, the mighty Washingtons, 
and Jeffersons, the Franklins and Madisons of future 
times ! O that Columbia may live before God ! and 
that the bright days of her prosperity may never have 
an end! 
17 



258 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

Washington's behaviour to the generous Fayette 
ought never to be forgotten. 

When that glorious young nobleman heard that 
Lord North had passed against America the decree 
of slavery ; and that the American farmers with their 
rusty firelocks and pitchforks, in front of their shriek- 
ing wives and children, were inch by inch disputing 
the soil against a hireling soldiery, the tears gushed 
from his eyes. He tore himself from the arms of the 
loveliest, fondest of wives; flew to his sovereign for 
permission to fight ; turned into powder and arms every 
livre that he could raise ; and, in a swift sailing frigate 
rushing through the waves to America, presented him- 
self before Washington. Washington received him as 
his son, and gave him command. Under the eye of 
that hero he fought and conquered. Having aided to 
fix the independence of strangers, he hastened back 
to France, to liberate his own countrymen from the 
curses of monarchy ; and to give them, like America, 
the blessings of a republic. A pupil of the temperate 
and virtuous Washington, he soon offended the hot 
headed demagogues of France. Banished from his 
native country, he was presently thrown, by royal 
jealousy, into a foreign prison. Most of us here in 
America, on hearing of his misfortunes, felt the kindly 
touch of sympathy. But alas! like those good people 
in the parable, we were so taken up with " buying 
land, trying oxen, or marrying wives," that we forgot 
our noble friend. But Washington did not forget him. 
His thoughts were often with him in his gloomy cell. 
He sent him a present of a thousand guineas — and in 
a letter to the Emperor of Germany, with equal delicacy 
and feeling, solicited his discharge, and permission to 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 259 

come to America. The letter concluded with these re- 
markable words : — "As it is a maxim with me never 
to ask what, under similar circumstances, I would not 
grant, your majesty will do me the justice to believe, 
that this request appears to me to correspond with 
those great principles of magnanimity and wisdom 
which form the basis of sound policy and durable 
glory/; 

This letter produced, in part, the desired effect. 
For immediately after the receipt of it, the marquis 
experienced a great increase of attention ; and in a 
short time he was liberated. Such was the respect 
paid to our American farmer, by one of the greatest 
monarchs in Europe. 

In 1795, the marquis's son made his escape from 
France, and arrived at Boston. Soon as Washington 
heard of it, he sent his parental respects to the youth, 
and informed him, that, though, from motives of 
tenderness to his mother, who was in the power of 
the directory, he could not be seen publicly to notice 
him, yet he begged to be considered by him as his 
father and protector — advised him to enter as a student 
in the university near Boston, and to draw on him for 
whatever moneys he should want. 

Congress, on hearing that a son of the noble marquis 
was in America, felt a deep interest in the youth, and 
ordered an immediate inquiry into his situation, in- 
tending generous things for him out of the national 
treasury. But finding that on this, as on all other 
occasions, Washington had done honour to the Amer- 
ican name, they rejoiced exceedingly, and let the matter 
drop. 



CHAPTER XV 

Washington's character continued 
HIS industry 

Awake, my boy! and let the rising sun 
Blush to see his vigilance outdone; 
In cheerful works consume the fleeting day, 
Toil thy pleasure, and business all thy play. 

But of all the virtues that adorned the life of this 
great man, there is none more worthy of our imitation 
than his admirable industry. It is to this virtue in 
her Washington, that America stands indebted for ser- 
vices past calculation : and it is from this virtue, that 
Washington himself snatched a wreath of glory that 
will never fade away. O that the good genius of 
America may prevail! that the example of this, her 
favourite son, may be but universally adopted ! Soon 
shall our land be free from all those sloth-begotten 
demons which now haunt and torment us. For 
whence do all our miseries proceed, but from lack 
of industry ! In a land like this, which, heaven has 
blessed above all lands — a land abounding with the 
fish and flesh pots of Egypt, and flowing with the 
choicest milk and honey of Canaan — a land where the 
poorest Lazarus may get his fifty cents a day for the 
commonest labour — and buy the daintiest bread of 
corn flour for a cent a pound ! why is any man hungry, 
or thirsty, or naked, or in prison ? why but through his 
unpardonable sloth? 
260 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 261 

But alas! what would it avail, though the blest 
shade of Washington were to descend from his native 
skies, and with an angel's voice, recommend industry 
as the handmaid of health, wealth, innocence, and 
happiness to man. A notion, from the land of lies, 
has taken too deep root among some, that " labour is 
a low-lived thing, fit for none but poor people and 
slaves ! and that dress and pleasure are the only ac- 
complishments for a gentleman ! But does it become 
a gentleman to saunter about, living on the charity 
of his relations — to suffer himself to be dunned by 
creditors, and, like a hunted wolf, to fly from the face 
of sheriffs and constables? Is it like a gentleman to 
take a generous woman from her parents, and reduce 
her to beggary — to see even her bed sold from under 
her, and herself and weeping infants turned out of 
doors ? Is it like a gentleman to reduce one's children 
to rags, and to drive them like birds of heaven, to 
hedges and highways, to pick berries, filling their pale 
bloated bodies with disease? Or is it like a gentle- 
man to bring up one's sons in sloth, pleasure, and 
dress, as young noblemen, and then leave them with- 
out estates, . profession, or trades, to turn gamblers, 
sharpers, or horse thieves ? " From such gentlemen, 
oh save my country. Heaven ! " was Washington's 
perpetual prayer, the emphatical prayer of his life and 
great example ! In his ear, wisdom was heard inces- 
santly calling aloud, " He is the real gentleman, who 
cheerfully contributes his every exertion to accomplish 
heaven's favourite designs, the beauty, order and hap- 
piness of human life ; whose industry appears in a 



262 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

plentiful house and smiling wife; in the decent ap- 
parel of his children, and in their good education 
and virtuous manners; who is not afraid to see any 
man on earth ; but meets his creditors with a smiling 
countenance, and with the welcome music of gold 
and silver in his hand; who exerts an honest industry 
for wealth, that he may become as a water-course in a 
thirsty land, a source of refreshment to a thousand 
poor." 

This was the life, this the example set by Wash- 
ington. His whole inheritance was but a small tract 
of poor land in Stafford county, and a few negroes. 
This appearing utterly insufficient for those purposes 
of usefulness, with the charms of which his mind 
seems to have been early smitten, he resolved to make 
up the deficiency by dint of industry and economy. — 
For these virtues, how excellent! how rare in youth! 
Washington was admirably distinguished when but 
a boy. At a time when many young men have no 
higher ambition than a fine coat and a frolic, " often 
have I seen him (says the reverend Mr. Le Massey) 
riding about the country with his surveying instru- 
ments at his saddle," enjoying the double satisfaction 
of obliging his fellow citizens by surveying their lands, 
and of making money, not meanly to hoard, but gen- 
erously to lend to any worthy object that asked it. 
This early industry was one of the first steps to Wash- 
ington's preferment. It attracted on him the notice 
and admiration of his numerous acquaintance, and, 
which was still more in his favour, it gave such un- 
common strength to his constitution, such vigour to 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 263 

his mind, such a spirit for adventure, that he was ready 
for any glorious enterprise, no matter how difficult or 
dangerous. Witness the expedition from Williamsburg 
through the Indian country to the Ohio, which at the 
green age of twenty-one, he undertook for Governor 
Dinwiddie. Indeed this uncommon attachment to in- 
dustry and useful life, made such an impression on 
the public mind in his favour, that by the time he was 
one and twenty he was appointed major and adjutant- 
general of the Virginia forces in the Northern Neck! 

There was at this time a young fellow in Williams- 
burg by the name of Jack B , who possessed 

considerable vivacity, great good-nature, and several 
accomplishments of the bon companion sort. He 
could tell a good story, sing agreeably, scrape a little 
on the fiddle, and cut as many capers to the tune of 
old Roger, as any buck a-going; and being, besides, 
a young fellow of fortune, and a son of an intimate 
acquaintance, Jack was a great favourite of the gov- 
ernor, and much at his house. But all this could not 
save poor Jack from the twinges of envy. For, on 
hearing every body talk in praise of Major Washing- 
ton, he could not help saying one day at the governor's 
table, " I wonder what makes the people so wrapped 
up in Major Washington : I think, begging your ex- 
cellency's pardon, I had as good a right to a major's 
commission." "Ah, Jack," replied the governor, " when 
we want diversion, we send for you. But when we 
want a man of business, we send for Major 
Washington." 

Never was the great Alfred more anxious to im- 



264 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

prove his time than our Washington: and it appears 
that, like Alfred, he divided his time into four grand 
departments, sleep, devotion, recreation, and business. 
On the hours of business, whether in his own or his 
country's service, he would allow nothing to infringe. 
While in camp, no company, however illustrious — 
no pleasures, however elegant — no conversation, how- 
ever agreeable — could prevail on him to neglect his 
business. The moment that his hour of duty was 
come, he would fill his glass, and with a smile, call 
out to his friends around the social board, " Well, gen- 
tlemen, here is bon repos," and immediately with- 
draw to business. Bon repos is a French cant for 
good night. Washington drank it as a signal to break 
up; for the moment the company had swallowed the 
general's bon repos, it was hats and off. General 
Wayne, who, happily for America, understood fight- 
ing better than French, had some how or other taken 
up a notion, that this same bon repos, to whom Wash- 
ington made such conscience of giving his last bumper, 
must have been some great warrior of the times of old. 
Having, by some extraordinary luck, gotten hold of 
two or three dozen of good old wine, he invited a 
parcel of hearty fellow-officers to dine with him, and 
help him to break them to the health of America. 
Soon as the cloth was removed, and the bottles on the 
table, the hero of Stony Point cried out, " Come my 
brave fellows, fill your glass; here's old bon repos 
for ever." The officers were thunderstruck : but having 
turned off their wine, rose up, one and all to go. " Hey 
day ! what's all this, gentlemen ? what's all this ? " 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 265 

" Why," replied they, " did not you drink bon repos, or 
good night ? " 

" What ! is that the meaning of it? " " Yes." " Oh ! 
then, damn old bon repos, and take your seats again : 
for, by the life of Washington, you shan't stir a peg 
till we have started every drop of our wine." 

While he was employed in choosing a place on 
the Potomac, for the federal city, his industry was 
no less remarkable. Knowing how little is generally 
done before breakfast, he made it a rule to rise so 
early as to have breakfast over, and be on horseback 
by the time the sun was up. Let the rising generation 
remember that he was then sixty years of age! 

On his farm, his husbandry of time was equally 
exemplary. He contemplated a great object: an ob- 
ject worthy of Washington. He aimed at teaching his 
countrymen the art of enriching their lands, and con- 
sequently of rendering the condition of man and beast 
more plentiful and happy. He had seen thousands of 
acres, which, by constant cultivation, had lost the power 
of covering their nakedness even with a suit of humble 
sedge. He had seen thousands of wretched cattle, 
which, driven out houseless and hayless into the cold 
wintry rains, presented such trembling spectacles of 
starvation and misery, as were enough to start the tear 
into Pity's ce. To remedy these cruel evils (which 
certainly they are, for He who lent us these animals 
never meant that we should make their lives a curse 
to them, much less to our children, hardened by such 
daily sights of misery), Washington generously set 
himself to make artificial meadows ; to cultivate fields 



266 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

of clover ; and to raise the most nutritious vegetables, 
such as cabbage, turnips, scarcity and potatoes; of 
which last article he planted in one year 700 bushels ! 
To render these vast supplies of food the more bene- 
ficial to his cattle, he built houses of shelter for them 
all. " He showed me a barn," says Brissot, " upwards 
of 100 feet square, and of brick, designed as a store- 
house for his corn, potatoes, turnips, &c., around which 
he had constructed stables of an amazing length, for 
his cattle." Every one of them had a stall well littered 
with leaves or straw ; and a rack and manger well fur- 
nished with hay and provender. 

The pleasure and profits arising from such an 
arrangement are incalculable. How delicious must it 
have been to a man of Washington's feelings, to re- 
flect that, even in the very worst weather, every crea- 
ture, on his extensive farms, was warmly and com- 
fortably provided ; to have seen his numerous flocks 
and herds, gamboling around him through excess of 
joy, and fullness of fat; to have beheld his steps 
washed with butter, and his dairies floated with rivers 
of milk; to have seen his once naked fields and frog- 
croaking swamps, now, by clearance or manure, con- 
verted into meadows, standing thick with heavy crops 
of timothy and sweet scented clover ; while his farm- 
yards were piled with such quantities of litter and 
manure as afforded a constantly increasing fertility 
to his lands. 

Here was an employment worthy of Washington; 
an employment, which we might indeed have expected 
from him, who, through life, had studied the best 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 2C7 

interests of his countrymen; who, first as a soldier, 
had defended them from slavery, and crowned them 
with liberty ; then, as a statesman, had preserved them 
from war, and secured to them the blessings of peace ; 
and now as the last, but not the least services of his 
life, was teaching them the great arts of improving 
their farms, multiplying their cattle, enriching their 
lands, and thus pouring a flood of plenty and of com- 
fort through the joyful habitations of man and beast. 

Full of the greatly benevolent idea, no wonder that 
he was so frugal of his time. Though the most hos- 
pitable of all the hospitable Virginians, he would not 
suffer the society of his dearest friends to take him 
from his business. Long accustomed to find his hap- 
piness in doing his duty, he had attained to such a 
royal arch degree of virtue, as to be restless and un- 
easy while his duty was neglected. Hence, of all 
that ever lived, Washington was the most rigidly ob- 
servant of those hours of business which were neces- 
sary to the successful management of his vast con- 
cerns. " Gentlemen, (he would often say to his friends 
who visited him) I must beg leave of absence a few 
hours in the forenoon: here is plenty of amusements, 
books, music, &c. Consider yourselves at home, and 
be happy," He came in about twelve o'clock ; and then, 
as if animated by the consciousness of having done his 
duty, and that all was going right, would give himself 
up to his friends and to decent mirth the rest of the day. 

But his mornings were always his own. Long 
before the sun peeped into the chambers of the slug- 
gard, Washington was on horseback, and out among 



268 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

his overseers and servants : and neither himself nor 
any about him were allowed to eat the bread of idle- 
ness. The happy eftects of such industry were obvious. 
Well manured and tilled, his lands yielded a grateful 
return : and it was at once pleasing and astonishing 
to behold the immense quantities of fine hay, of fat 
cattle, and choice grain, that were raised on his farms ; 
of wheat 7000 bushels in one year, and 5000 bushels 
of Indian corn ! His servants fared plentifully. His 
cattle never had the hollow horn. And the surplus of 
his prudence, sold to the merchants, furnished bread 
to the needy, and a revenue to himself more than suffi- 
cient to defray his vast expenditures, and to spread a 
table of true Virginian hospitality for those crowds of 
friends and foreigners whom affection or curiosity led 
to visit him. 

Oh! divine Industry! queen mother of all our vir- 
tues and of all our blessings ! what is there of great 
or of good in this wide world that springs not from 
thy royal bounty? And thou, O ! infernal Sloth ! fruit- 
ful fountain of all our crimes and curses ! what is there 
of mean or of miserable in the lot of man that flows 
not from thy hellish malice? 

What was it that betrayed David, otherwise the 
best of kings, into the worst of crimes? Idleness. 
Sauntering about idly on the terrace of his palace, he 
beheld the naked beauties of the distant Bathsheba. 
Lust, adultery, and murder were the consequences. 

What was it that brought on a ten years' war be- 
tween the Greeks and Trojans? Idleness. Young 
Paris, the coxcomb of Troy, having nothing to do, 
strolls over to the court of Menelaus (a Greek prince) 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 269 

whose beauteous wife, Helen, the black-eyed queen 
of love, he corrupts and carries off to Troy. A bloody 
war ensues. Paris is slain. His father, brothers, 
and myriads of wretched subjects are slaughtered: 
and Troy, the finest city of Asia, is reduced to ashes ! 

What was it that hurried poor Mr. A d to that 

horrid act of suicide, which froze the blood of all who 
heard it? Idleness. His young wife, with all that 
we could conceive of sweetness, tenderness, and truth 
in an angel's form ; and his three beauteous babes 
were the three graces in smiling infancy. But oh, 
wretched man ! having nothing to do ! he strolled to 
a tavern, and to a card table, where he lost his all ! 
five thousand pounds, lately settled on him by a fond 
father ! He awakes to horrors unutterable ! What 
will become of his ruined wife! his beggared babes? 
Believing his torments little inferior to those of the 
damned, he seizes the fatal pistol; drives the scorch- 
ing bullet through his brains ; and flies a shrieking 
ghost to join the mournful throng! 

O sad sight! see yon tall young man, in powder 
and ruffles, standing before his judges, trembling like 
an aspen, and pale and blank as the picture of guilt ; 
while the crowded court house, every countenance filled 
with pity or contempt, is fixed upon him. Alas ! what 
could have brought him to this ? Idleness. His father 
happening to possess 500 acres of poor land, and a 
few negroes, thought it would be an eternal disgrace 
to his family to bring up his son, (though he had 
many,) to be a mechanic. No: he must be a gentle- 
man ! ! Grown to man's estate, and having no pro- 
fession, trade, or habit of industry to support this 



270 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

pleasant life, he took to horse-stealing. If we had 
leisure to wait, we should presently see this unhappy 
youth, on receiving sentence of death, bursting into 
sobs and cries sufficient to make us wish he had never 
been born. But let us leave these horrible scenes of 
shame, misery, and death, into which idleness never 
fails to bring poor deluded youth, and joyfully return 
to our beloved Washington, and to his health, wealth, 
and glory-giving goddess. Industry. 

What is it that braces the nerves, purifies the blood, 
and hands down the flame of life, bright and sparkling, 
to old age? What, but rosy cheeked Industry. See 
Washington so invigorated by constant exercise, that, 
though hereditarily subject to the gout, of which all 
his family died, he entirely escaped it ; and, even at the 
age of ^^, continued straight and active as a young 
grenadier, and ready once more at his country's call, 
to lead her eager warriors to the field. 

What is it that preserves the morals of young men 
unsoiled, and secures the blessings of unblemished 
character and unbroken health? What, but snow- 
robed industry? See Washington under the guard- 
ianship of industry, walking the slippery paths of 
youth, safe and uncorrupted, though born in a country 
whose fertility and climate furnished both the means 
and invitation of vice. Early smitten with the love 
of glory ; early engaged in the noble pursuit of knowl- 
edge, of independence, and of usefulness; he had no 
eyes to see bad examples, nor ensnaring objects; no 
ears to hear horrid oaths, nor obscene language; no 
leisure for impure passions nor criminal amours. 
Hence he enjoyed that purity of soul, which is rightly 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 271 

called its sunshine; and which impressed a dignity on 
his character, and gave him a beauty and loveliness in 
the eyes of men, that contributed more to his rise in 
the world, than young people can readily conceive. 

And what is it that raises a young man from 
poverty to wealth, from obscurity to never-dying fame? 
What, but industry? See Washington, born of humble 
parents, and in humble circumstances — born in a narrow 
nook and obscure corner of the British plantations ! yet 
lo! What great things wonder-working industry can 
bring out of this unpromising Nazareth. While but a 
youth, he manifested such a noble contempt of sloth, 
such a manly spirit to be always learning or doing some- 
thing useful or clever, that he was the praise of all who 
knew him. And, though but 15, so high were the 
hopes entertained of him, he was appointed a surveyor! 
arduous task ! But his industry was a full match for it. 
Such was the alertness with which he carried on his 
survey ; such the neatness and accuracy of his plats and 
drafts, that he met with universal applause. Full-fed 
and flushed with so much fare of praise, a fare of all 
other the most toothsome and wholesome to generous 
minds, our young eagle began to flap his wings of 
honest ambition, and to pant for nobler darings. A 
fair occasion was soon offered — a dangerous expedi- 
tion through the Indian wilds, as already mentioned, 
to the French Mamelukes on the Ohio. Nobody else 
having ambition for such an adventure, Washington's 
offer was gladly accepted. And he executed that 
hazardous and important trust with such diligence and 
propriety, that he received the thanks of the governor 
and council. Honours came down on him now in 



272 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

showers. He was appointed major and adjutant-gen- 
eral of the Virginia forces ; then a colonel ; afterwards 
a member of the house of burgesses; next, generalis- 
simo of the armies of the United States; and, finally, 
chief magistrate of the Union. All these floods of 
prosperity and honour, which in thousands would have 
but served to bloat with lust or pride, with him served 
but the more to rouse his industry, and to enlarge his 
usefulness ; for such was his economy of time, and so 
admirable his method and regularity of business, that 
he always kept a-head of it.* No letters of conse- 
quence were unanswered. No reasonable expectations 
were disappointed. No necessary information was ever 
neglected. Neither the congress, nor the governors of 
the several states, nor the officers of his army, nor the 
British generals, nor even the overseers and stewards 
on his farms, were uninformed what he expected from 
them. Nobody concerned with him was idle or fretted 
for want of knowing what to do. 

O admirable man ! O great preceptor to his coun- 
try ! no wonder every body honoured him who hon- 
oured every body; for the poorest beggar that wrote 
to him on business, was sure to receive a speedy and 
decisive answer. No wonder every body loved him, 

* He was taken ill on Friday. An intimate friend asked 
him if he wished to have anything done on the arrangement 
of his temporal affairs. He shook his head, and replied, " No, 
I thank you ; for my books are all posted to Tuesday ! " That 
industry and method must be truly astonishing, which in the 
management of possessions so vast and complicated as his, 
kept everything so harmoniously adjusted, as to be ready, at 
a moment's warning, to leave the world forever without a 
wish to alter a tittle. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 273 

who, by his unwearied attention to the pubHc good, 
manifested the tenderest love for every body. No 
wonder that his country delighted to honour him, who 
shewed such a sense of her honours that he would not 
allow even a leaf of them to wither; but so watered 
them all with the refreshing streams of industry, that 
they continued to bloom with ever-increasing glory on 
his head. 

Since the day that God created man on the earth, 
none ever displayed the power of industry more sig- 
nally than did George Washington. Had he, as prince 
of Wales, or as dauphin of France rendered such great 
services, or attained such immortal honours, it would 
not have seemed so marvellous in our eyes. But that 
a poor young man, with neither king, lords, nor com- 
mons to back him — with no princes, nor strumpets of 
princes, to curry favour for him — with no gold but his 
virtue, no silver but his industry, should, with this old- 
fashioned coin, have stolen away the hearts of all the 
American Israel, and from a sheep-cot have ascended 
the throne of his country's affections, and acquired a 
name above the mighty ones of the earth ! this is 
marvellous indeed ! It is surely the noblest panegyric 
ever yet paid to that great virtue, industry, which has 
" length of days in her right hand ; and in her left hand 
riches and honours." 

Young reader! go thy way; think of Washington; 
and HOPE. Though humble thy birth, low thy fortune, 
and few thy friends, still think of Washington; and 
HOPE. Like him, honour thy God ; and delight in 
glorious toil. Then, like him, " thou shalt stand before 
kings. Thou shalt not stand before common men." 
18 



CHAPTER XVI 

Washington's character concluded 
his patriotism 

"O eternal King of men and angels, elevate our minds! each 
low and partial passion thence dispel ! till this great truth 
in every heart be known, that none but those who aid the 
public cause, can shield their country or themselves from 
chains." Lbonidas. 

In this grand republican virtue we can with pleas- 
ure compare our Washington with the great worthies 
of ancient or modern times. 

The patriotism of the Roman emperor, Alexander, 
has been celebrated through all ages, because he was 
never known to give any place through favour or 
friendship ; but employed those only whom he believed 
to be the best qualified to serve his country. In our 
Washington we meet this great and honest emperor 
again. For in choosing men to serve his country, 
Washington knew no recommendation but merit — had 
no favourite but worth. No relations, however near — 
no friends, however dear — stood any chance for places 
under him, provided he knew men better qualified. Re- 
specting such men, he never troubled himself to inquire, 
whether they were foreigners or natives, federalists or 
democrats. Some of the young officers of his native 
state, on hearing that Colonel Washington was made 
commander in chief, were prodigiously pleased, ex- 
274 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 275 

pecting to be made field officers immediately. But in 
this they were so utterly mistaken, that some of them 
have foolishly said, " it was a misfortune to be a Vir- 
ginian." Indeed, his great soul was so truly republican, 
that, during the whole of his administration, he was 
never known to advance an individual of his own name 
and family. 

The British, with good reason, admire and extol 
Admiral Blake as one of the bravest and best of 
patriots ; because, though he disliked Oliver Cromwell, 
yet he fought gallantly under him ; and, with his dying 
breath, exhorted his men, " to love their country as a 
common mother; and, no matter what hands the gov- 
ernment might fall into, to fight for her like good 
children." 

Of the same noble spirit was Washington. Often 
was he called to obey men greatly his inferiors, and 
to execute orders which he entirely disapproved. But 
he was never known to falter. Sensible of the infinite 
importance of union and order to the good of his 
country, he ever yielded a prompt obedience to her 
delegated will. And, not content with setting us, 
through life, so fair an example, he leaves us at his 
death, this blessed advice : " Your government claims 
your utmost confidence and support. Respect for its 
AUTHORITY, Compliance with its laws, acquiescence in 
its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental 
maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political 
system is the right of the people to make and alter 
their constitutions of government. But the constitu- 
tion, which at any time exists, until changed by an 



276 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is 

SACREDLY OBLIGATORY UPON ALL." 

History has lavished its choicest praises on those 
magnanimous patriots, who, in their wars for liberty 
and their country, have cheerfully sacrificed their own 
wealth to defeat the common enemy. 

Equal to this was the spirit of Washington. For, 
during the war, while he was with the army to the 
north, a British frigate came up the Potomac, to Mount 
Vernon; and threatened to lay the place in ashes, if 
provisions were not instantly sent on board. To save 
that venerable mansion, the manager sent aboard the 
requisite supplies. On hearing the matter, Washington 
wrote his manager the following letter: 

" Sir — It gives me extreme concern to hear that you 
furnished the enemy with refreshments. It would have 
been a less painful circumstance to me, to have heard, 
that in consequence of your non-compliance with their 
request, they had laid my plantation in ruins. 

" George Washington." 

But, among all his splendid acts of patriotism, there 
is none which, with so little noise, may do us more 
good, than his " Legacy, or Farewell to the People 
of the United States." In this admirable bequest, like 
a true teacher sent from God, he dwells chiefly on our 
union and brotherly love. This, the first birth of true 
religion, appears to him as the one thing needful, the 
spring of political life, and bond of perfection. 

On this topic he employs all the energies of his 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 277 

mind: and, in words worthy to be written in gold, 
emphatically beseeches his countrymen to guard with 
holiest care *' the unity of the government," as the 
" main pillar and palladium of their liberty, their inde- 
pendence, and every thing most dear to them on earth." 

Little did that illustrious patriot suspect, that, in 
so short a time after his death, the awful idea of dis- 
union should have become familiar to the public eye 
— so familiar as to have worn off half its horrors from 
the minds of many of our deluded citizens ! Disunion ! 
Merciful God! what good man can think of it but 
as of treason, and as a very Pandora's box, replete 
with every curse that can give up our dear country to 
desolation and havoc ! 

This disorganizing scheme has been three times 
brought forward, by what Washington terms " cun- 
ning, ambitious, and unprincipled men," making use 
of a thousand arts to shut the eyes of the citizens on 
that yawning gulph to which they were so wickedly 
misleading them. And each time, Lucifer-like, these 
ministers of darkness have clothed themselves over 
as " angels of light " with the captivating plea of 
public good. — " The disadvantages of the union ! the 
disadvantages of the union ? " is their constant cry. 
Now admitting it to be true, that this so much hated 
union has its disadvantages, (and where is there any 
human institution, even the noblest, that is free from 
them?) yet is it not the parent of blessings so many 
and great, that no good man, as Washington says, 
" can think of them without gratitude and rejoicing? " 
and is it not equally true, that these disadvantages of 



278 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

the union would not, in fifty years, equal the ruinous 
consequence of a disunion, in probably half a year. 

At present,* the plea for this most horrible meas- 
ure, is the mischievous effects of the embargo. — Well, 
grant that it is mischievous, highly mischievous and 
painful, for such v^e all feel it, yet how inexpres- 
sibly absurd it must be, to put the loss of trade, for 
a year or two, in competition with the peace and 
happiness, the independence and sovereignty of our 
country ! Would not this be an act a thousand times 
more mad and wicked than that of the wretched Esau, 
who, to remove the cravings of a momentary appetite, 
sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage ! 

At this day, through the great mercies of God, we 
have cause to consider ourselves the happiest nation 
on earth. — List! oh list! 

For many years past the greater part of Christen- 
dom has been involved in all the horrors of the most 
bloody and destructive wars. Their kings and queens 
have been rudely hurled from their thrones: and the 
" honourable men and the princes," verifying the 
mournful language of ancient prophecy, have been seen 
embracing the dung-hill, or flying from their distracted 
countries : while the mass of the people, unable to fly, 
have been crushed to the earth with tythes and taxes — 
with impressments and conscriptions — with forced 
loans and arbitrary requisitions — with martial law, ad- 
ministered by military judges, with the bayonet at the 
breast of the citizens ! On the other hand, during all 

* This was written Anno Domini, 1809. 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 279 

these horrid convulsions and miseries of other nations, 
we, thoughtless, thankless we, have enjoyed all the 
blessings of peace, plenty, and security. Our persons 
have been free from the violence of impressments and 
conscriptions; and our lives and property perfectly 
safe under the nightly staves of a few old watchmen ! 
while other nations have been over-run with devouring 
armies, and doomed to see their houses in flames, and 
the garments of their children rolled in blood, we, like 
favoured Israel, have been sitting under our vine and 
fig-tree, none daring to make us afraid. We have 
been advancing in riches and strength, with a rapidity 
unequalled in the history of man. We have been 
progressing in arts, manufactures, and commerce, to 
an extent and success that has astonished the most 
enlightened Europeans : and even at this moment, while 
sufifering under the privations of the embargo, we are 
feasted with every necessary, and enjoying many of 
the elegancies of life. 

And yet, with so many substantial blessings in our 
hands, with so much heaven-sent manna in our mouths, 
like ungrateful Israel, we are mourning for lack of 
European luxuries (as they did for the Egyptian flesh- 
pots), luxuries which we once enjoyed, but are now 
most unjustly deprived of by our brethren, the nations 
of Europe, who are stronger than we. And as if that 
were not a sufficient evil — as if it were not grievous 
enough to suffer such a hindrance in trade, agriculture, 
and business of all kinds — we are now threatened with 
one, in comparison of which our present privations 
are insignificant — one which of all others, Washington 



280 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

most dreaded, and was most startled at, I mean a 
separation of the states, and consequently, civil war. 

This dreadful consequence is as obvious as it is 
dreadful. Yes, it is most obvious, that the separation 
of the states can never take place without civil war. 
For if the states, disposed to separate, were unani- 
mous in the attempt, the general government could 
not look idly on their apostacy, but must resist it! 
and to that end must call out the force of the rest of 
the union to crush it. And here, merciful God ! what 
scenes are rising before the eyes of horror-struck 
imagination? A whole nation suddenly filled with 
terror ; " men's hearts failing them for fear, and for 
looking to those things that are coming on the land " — 
the drums and instruments of war beginning to sound — 
the warriors' guns and swords preparing ; not for cheer- 
ful defence of liberty and country, which would make 
war glorious ; but for the gloomy and infernal work of 
civil discord. Sisters, mute with grief, and looking 
through swelling tears, on their brothers, as they gird 
on the hated swords — wives, shaking with strong fits, 
and, with their little children, filling their houses with 
lamentations for husbands and fathers tearing them- 
selves away for the dismal war, whence they are to 
return no more ! while aged parents, at parting with 
their sons, express the deep grief only in groans! or, 
wringing their withered hands, with tearful eyes to 
heaven, implore a speedy grave to put their griefs 
to rest. 

But all this is but the beginning of sorrows. For 
who can paint the scenes which ensue when the two 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 281 

armies meet? when they meet, not in the liberal spirit 
of stranger troops, who, fighting merely for honour 
and pay, are ready, in the first moment of victory, to 
sheath their swords, and to treat the vanquished with 
humanity and politeness ; but in all the bitterness and 
exterminating spirit of a family quarrel, where men, 
after numberless acts of the blackest slander and of 
rancorous hate, having done every thing to destroy 
each other's souls, are now come together to destroy 
each other's bodies. Hence, the moment the ill-fated 
parties meet, their fierce revengeful passions take fire : 
scarce can they wait the trumpet's dreadful signal. 
Then, rushing on each other, more like demons than 
men, they thrust and stab, and shout and yell, in the 
horrid work of mutual slaughter. 

And when one of the wretched parties, nearly con- 
sumed by the sword, and unable to resist any longer, 
cry for quarters, they cry in vain. 

The furious conquerors feel not the touch of pity ; 
but, regardless of uplifted hands and prayers, continue 
their cruel blows till all is hushed in death. 

This is the horrid fate of all civil wars. The streets 
of ancient Rome; the fields of Culloden; the plains of 
modern France ; and even the piney woods of Georgia 
and South Carolina, strewed with mangled carcases, 
all give awful proof, that when brethren turn their 
swords into each other's bowels, war degenerates into 
murder, and battles into butcheries. 

Nor can even the grave set limits to their rage; 
but, like lions, turning from the mangled dead, they 
fly for new game to the living. All those, who by 



282 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

their wealth had most injured, or by their writings 
had most inflamed them, are sure to be the victims 
of their vengeance. Such persons — as was the case 
in the last war, between the whigs and tories in the 
southern states — have been dragged out of their houses, 
and, amidst the screams of their wives and children, 
have been hung up on the trees, or cut to pieces with 
swords with the most savage joy ; while their furniture 
has been plundered, their houses burnt, their cattle 
and slaves carried off, and their widows and children 
driven out, crying, and without bread, into the barren 
woods. 

Nor does this tragedy (of a free government madly 
divided and destroying itself) terminate here. Even 
this, as Solomon says, is but their " way to hell and 
their going down by the chambers of death," (political 
slavery). For when nations thus wickedly abuse their 
liberty, God will take it away. When they will not live 
in peace, out of virtuous choice, they shall be com- 
pelled by brutal force. 

And since they would not let God reign over them 
with a golden sceptre of reason and equal laws, he 
will set a master over them with a scourge of scorpions 
and an iron rod : some proud tyrant, who, looking on 
our country but as his estate, and ourselves as his 
cattle, shall waste our wealth on the pomps of his 
court, or the salaries of his officers; destroy our sons 
in his ambitious wars ; and beggar us with exactions, 
as long as his ministers can invent taxes, or we, by 
hard labour, can raise money to pay them. 

" Then," in the words of Washington, " what a 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 283 

triumph for the advocates of despotism, to find that 
we are incapable of governing ourselves; and that 
systems founded on equal liberty are ideal and falla- 
cious ! " Then, how will the proud sons of despotism 
shake themselves with laughter on their thrones ; and 
hell itself, responsive to their joy, clank her congratu- 
lating chains, that heaven is defeated, and the misery 
of man is sealed. 

But, O ye favoured countrymen of Washington ! 
your republic is not yet lost; there is still hope. The 
arm that wrought your political salvation, is still 
stretched out to save; then hear his voice and live! 
Hear the voice of the Divine Founder of your republic : 
" Little children, love one another." Hear his voice 
from the lips of his servant Washington. ''Above 
all things hold dear your national union. Accustom 
yourselves to estimate its immense, its infinite value 
to your individual and national happiness. Look on 
it as the palladium of your tranquillity at home ; of 
your peace abroad ; of your safety ; of your prosperity ; 
and even of that very liberty which you so highly 
prize ! " To this you are bound by every tie of grati- 
tude and love to God or man. ist. As to God, no 
people more than you can be bound to adore that in- 
visible hand which rules the affairs of men. 'Twas 
he who fought your battles, and against such fearful 
odds established your independence ; and afterwards 
disposed your hearts for the reception of a general 
and equal government. And for what did God per- 
form all these miracles for you, but that he might 
glorify himself in your protection and happiness? And 



284 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

will you now rise up with joy to co-operate with God 
in the glorious work of beautifying, with the fruits of 
righteousness, this goodly land, which he has so hon- 
oured, that he may place his own great name therein? 
And remember, moreover, my countrymen, that 
you are now the favoured actors on a most conspicu- 
ous theatre; a theatre which seems peculiarly desig- 
nated of Heaven for the display of human greatness 
and felicity. Far from the furious passions and politics 
of Europe, you are placed here by yourselves, the sole 
proprietors of a vast region, embracing all the soils 
and climates of the earth, and abounding with all the 
conveniences of life. And Heaven has crowned all 
its blessings by giving you a freer government and a 
fairer opportunity for political happiness than any 
other nation was ever favoured with. In this view, 
citizens of the United States, you are certainly respon- 
sible for the highest trust ever confided to any people. 
The eyes of long oppressed humanity are now looking 
up to you as to her last hope ; the whole world are 
anxious spectators of your trial ; and with your be- 
haviour at this crisis, not only your own, but the 
destiny of unborn millions is involved. H, now, you 
make a wise use of the all important opjwrtunity — if 
your free constitution should be sacredly maintained — 
if honour, if patriotism, if union, and brotherly love 
should prevail, with all the good qualities which ennoble 
the character of nations — then the victory will be sure : 
your triumph will be complete : and the pressure of the 
present difficulties, instead of weakening will give a 
firmer tone to the federal government, that shall prob- 



THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 285 

ably immortalize the blessings of liberty to our chil- 
dren and children's children. 

Then rouse ! my generous countrymen, rouse ! and, 
filled with the awfulness of our situation, with the 
glorious spirit of '^6, rally around the sacred standard 
of your country. As good children give her all your 
support. Respect her authority! — comply with her 
laws ! — acquiesce in her measures ! Thus cemented by 
love, she shall become like the precious wedge of 
Ophir that defies the furnace ; and coming forth from 
the fiery trial brighter than ever, she shall shed on the 
cause of freedom, a dignity and lustre which it never 
enjoyed before ; a lustre which cannot fail to have a 
favourable influence on the rights of man. Other 
nations, finding from your example, that men are 
capable of governing themselves, will aspire to the 
same honour and felicity. Great and successful 
struggles will be made for liberty. Free governments 
(the pure mothers of nations) will at length be estab- 
lished. Honouring all their virtuous children alike, 
jealousies and hatreds will cease, and cordial love pre- 
vail, inviting the industry of all, the blessing of plenty 
will be spread abroad, and shameless thefts be done 
away. And wisdom and worth (as in the choice of a 
free people) being called to high places, errors will 
be rare. Vices, ashamed, shall hide their odious heads, 
cruelties seem abhorrent, and wars unknown. Thus 
step by step progressing in virtue, the world will ripen 
for glory, till the great hour of her dissolution being 
come, the ready archangel shall lift his trumpet, and 
sound her knell. The last refining flames shall then 



286 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

kindle on this tear-bathed, blood-stained globe, while 
from its ashes a new earth shall spring, far happier 
than the first. There, freed from all their imperfec- 
tions, the spirits of good men, (the only true patriots,) 
shall dwell together, and spend their ever brightening 
days in loves and joys eternal. 

May the Great Founder of your holy republic keep 
you all under his divine protection ; incline your hearts 
to cultivate a spirit of cheerful subordination to gov- 
ernment; to entertain a brotherly affection and love 
for one another; and finally dispose you all to do jus- 
tice; to love mercy; and to demean yourselves with 
that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, 
which were the characteristics of the Divine Author 
of our blessed religion ; without an humble imitation of 
whose example, in these things, we can never hope to 
be a great and happy nation. 



, CONCLUSION 

Washington's will 

Few great men are great in every thing. But in 
the last testament of this extraordinary American, we 
see some things altogether characteristic. 

When Benedict Arnold came to die, he said — " I 
bequeath my soul to God." 

When Henry Laurens, president of the first con- 
gress, came to die, he said, " My flesh is too good for 
worms : I give it to the flames ; " which was done. 

But Washington makes no preamble about his soul 
or body. As to his soul, having made it his great 
business to re-instamp on it the image of God, he 
doubted not but it would be remembered, when Christ 
should come " to make up his jewels." 

And as to his body, that admirable piece of divine 
mechanism, so long the honoured servant of duty to 
his God and his country, he trusted, that, though "sown 
in dishonour, it would one day be raised in glory;" 
so leaving it to rest in hope, he proceeds to the follow- 
ing distribution of his worldly goods : 

1st. Though an old husband of 68, yet, with the 
gallantry and warm aflfection of a young groom, he 
gives the whole of his estate (530,000 dollars) to his 
beloved wife Martha. 

2d. Like a pure republican, he orders all his slaves 
to be liberated, at certain ages, on his wife's death — 
lamenting, that from obstacles insurmountable, he could 
not have done it earlier. 

3d. He confirms his former donations, viz. 4000 
dollars to a charity school in the town of Alexandria ; 

287 



288 THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON 

10,000 dollars to Liberty Hall Academy, Rockbridge 
county, Virginia ; and 20,000 dollars to a national uni- 
versity, to be founded in Washington; with this re- 
mark : " It has always been a source of serious regret 
with me, to see the youth of these United States sent 
to foreign countries for education, often before their 
minds were formed, or they had imbibed just ideas of 
the happiness of their own ; contracting too frequently, 
not only habits of dissipation and extravagance, but 
principles unfriendly to republican government, and to 
the true and genuine liberties of mankind. 

" For these reasons, it has been my ardent wish to 
see a university in a central part of the tnion, to 
which the youth of fortune and talents, from all parts 
thereof, may be sent for the completion of their educa- 
tion in all the branches of polite and useful learning, 
and especially of politics and good government; and 
also that, by associating with each other, and forming 
friendships in early life, they may be enabled to free 
themselves from those local prejudices and state jeal- 
ousies, which are never-failing sources of disquietude 
to the public mind, and pregnant with mischievous con- 
sequences to this country." 

4th. Having no children, he bequeaths the whole 
of his estate, a few legacies excepted, to the children, 
23 in number, of his brothers and sister; and, like a 
generous and aflfectionate relative, he gave to the chil- 
dren of his half brother, Augustin, equally as to those 
of his own brothers. And, 'tis a most pleasing fact, he 
gave to his wife's grand-children in like liberal measure 
with his own nieces and nephews! the part given to 
each has been computed at 20,000 dollars, 

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